AP Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav has written to Union Textiles and Handlooms Minister Giriraj Singh to take immediate steps to set up a “handloom cluster” in Dharmavaram of Sathya Sai district. He mentioned in the letter that the region has been famous for centuries for the handloom sector especially for the production of silk sarees.
The Minister said that the comprehensive project report (DPR) related to the establishment of handloom clusters has been attached to the letter. He asked the Union Minister to look into it and take action. Satyakumar explained in the letter that Dharmavaram is popular for the best quality handloom and silk saree makers.
He said that the traditional silk saree manufacturing sector of Dharmavaram is facing many challenges as power looms are increasing exponentially in the modern mechanized age. The minister expressed his concern that the income of those who depend on this sector is significantly reduced and they are facing financial difficulties.
Satyakumar told the Union Minister that he has made many proposals in the DPR to bring the silk sari production sector of Dharmavaram, which is stuck in a quagmire of challenges, into a groove. The minister said that around 28,500 families across Sathya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh, especially 12,800 families in Dharmavaram region depend on the handloom sector for their survival.
Therefore, he appealed to the Union Minister that the measures proposed by him would be useful to financially support the families of handloom workers and to encourage appropriate competition in this sector.
For the establishment of Dharmavaram handloom cluster proposed at an estimated cost of Rs.30 crores, 80 percent of the funds (about Rs.24 crores) will be borne by the center, while for the remaining 20 percent funds he said that the AP government is ready to bear Rs.6 crores. Minister Satyakumar Yadav appealed to the Union Minister Giriraj Singh to look into the DPR and take further steps as many benefits and many families are likely to depend on the handloom cluster.