Bihar State Industries Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC) to help the weavers of the state.
An amount of Rs. 1 crore has been released for the initiative by the State Government. Under the MoU, the Government will provide the weavers with raw materials (yarn) on credit along with subsidy.
The initiative is aimed to support 56,000 weavers of 952 primary weavers’ societies affiliated with the Bihar State Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative Union Limited (BSHWCUL).
The weavers will get 45 days to repay the loan. A subsidy of 10 per cent will also be given to them. Bihar has become first the state in India to do so.
Additionally, Rs. 2 crores funding has been created for the advance payment to BSHWCUL-weavers. A cheque for Rs. 50 lakh has already been released.
Another aid worth Rs. 1.25 crores has been given to BSHWCUL. The BSHWCUL will use this fund to supply 68-inch looms, used in weaving double bedsheets and curtains among others, to the weavers.
According to a senior official of the State Government, the weavers’ societies will use NHDC’s e-Dhaga mobile app to place orders for raw materials by paying just 10 per cent of the total amount.
The ordered materials will be delivered to them within 15 days without any transportation cost.
