The Government of Odisha launched a special assistance scheme ‘Baristha Bunakar Sahayata Yojana’ for elderly handloom weavers on the occasion of ‘National Handlooms Day’(7aug).

it has been launched by the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik with an aim to improve the financial condition of over 8,000 weavers, who have been working in this field for the last 20 years.  As Odisha produces handloom fabrics worth Rs 160 crore. There are nearly 1.5 lakh weavers including 78% of women in the state engaged in handloom productions.

key points:

• all handloom weavers above the age of 60 years would get a monthly pension of 500 rupees, and those above 80 years would get 700 rupees.

• Patnaik also declared that the state government is ready to support the livelihood of the handloom weavers in the state and a number of steps have been taken to elevate their status. On the occasion, Mr Patnaik also gave away awards to various weavers’ cooperative societies who have been relentlessly promoting and producing the traditional weaves of Odisha.

• The pension amounts would be directly sent to the beneficiaries bank accounts.