Bhubaneswar: Good news for the senior weavers and handicraft artisans of Odisha. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced a new scheme ‘Mukhyamantri Baristha Bunakar O Karigar Sahayata Yojana’ for their welfare and security.
Under this scheme, financial assistance of Rs 2,000 per month will be provided to female weavers, weaving assistants and artisans in the age group of 40 to 80 years and male weavers and weaving assistants and artisans in the age group of 50 to 80 years.
Financial assistance of Rs 2500 per month will be provided to senior weavers above 80 years and assistants and senior artisans (both women and men) engaged in weaving.
It is worth noting that the state government has been implementing various skill development and welfare schemes for the overall development of the weavers and artisans of the state.
Weavers and handicraft artisans have played an important role in showcasing and preserving the rich heritage of the state.
There are more than 1,25,000 weavers and weaving helpers engaged in weaving while there are more than 1,50,000 handicraft artisans in the state.
However, while the state government has a “Baristha Bunakar Sahayata Yojana” to help weavers in their elderly age, there is no scheme for senior handloom artisans.
Weavers between the ages of 60 and 80 years were getting assistance of Rs 500 per month and those above 80 years of age were getting Rs 700 per month.
On the instructions of Chief Minister, 5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman Kartik Pandian during the visit to districts, the weavers and handicrafts artisans of different regions had requested in this regard. Considering these requests, the State Government has decided to introduce a new scheme “Mukhyamantri Baristha Bunakar O Karigara Sahayata Yojana” for the welfare of weavers and handicrafts artisans of the state.
The following qualifications must be met to be considered eligible for this scheme:
- a) Beneficiary’s name must be registered as weavers and helpers engaged in weaving and handicrafts in the survey list prepared by the Director of Textiles and Director of Handicrafts.
- b) His/her annual family income does not exceed Rs 1 lakh
- c) Should not have been a beneficiary of any corresponding scheme by the State Government or the Central Government.
- d) Beneficiary should not be a Government servant, taxpayer or pensioner of Central or State Government.
- n) Only one person from a family can get benefits under this scheme.
- f) The assistance amount of the scheme will be disbursed directly by DBT to the Aadhaar-linked savings accounts of eligible deemed weavers and helpers and artisans engaged in weaving.
The scheme will be implemented by the Department of Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts.
For this, necessary guidelines will be issued by the department. Beneficiaries receiving assistance under the “Baristha Bunakar Sahayata Yojana” will be given enhanced assistance amount between 20th and 25th of February.
Subsequently, suitable beneficiaries will be selected from amongst the weavers and helpers engaged in weaving and artisans will be given assistance as soon as possible.
