Agartala handloom weavers suffer huge losses due to government apathy

AGARTALA - Handloom weavers in Agartala are suffering huge losses and complained that the policies of the state government have hindered the marketing and financial support through different programmes to them.

Harpada Biswas, a weaver, said that earlier, there was a demand of a typical type of weave and fabric, but now the demand has fallen in past few years.

“I am working as a weaver for the past 30 years and earning my livelihood. Few days back, there was a demand for the Janta (a type of sari) and we were doing well. Now, we are in a bad condition and somehow feed our families by making tribal clothes,” said Biswas.

“These clothes are not very much in demand. If the government gives us a little subsidy, then we hope to continue weaving,” he added.

A handloom unit owner Sadananda Das said the government used to buy the Janta products through a programme that supported rural crafts but it is not doing the same now, which has added to their woes.

“Earlier, the government used to buy all our Janta products through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Credit Society (PACCS), but it has discontinued it now. Now, we are in real trouble and only if the government helps us, we shall continue,” Das said. By Pinaki Das (ANI)