Nethanna Bima Scheme:
On August 7, 2022, the Telangana government launched the ‘Nethanna Bima,’ a first-of-its-kind scheme in the country, which provided handloom and power loom workers with Rs five lakh insurance coverage.
Handlooms Minister KT Rama Rao, who launched the scheme on National Handloom Day at a virtual function here, urged the Central government to repeal GST on handlooms because it had a negative impact on the handloom sector in general and weavers in particular.
“Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, launched the Swadeshi Movement to promote handlooms. Unfortunately, the BJP government is the first government to levy GST on handlooms after 75 years of Independence,” he said, adding that the decision to levy GST on the handlooms sector should be reversed in the best interest of weavers nationwide.
According to the Minister, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao decided to implement Nethanna Ku Bima, which is on par with Rythu Bima, to instil confidence among weavers. According to him, the insurance coverage scheme, which was implemented in collaboration with LIC, would benefit 80,000 handloom and power loom weavers in the state.
He said that in the event of a weaver’s natural or accidental death, Rs. 5 lakh would be deposited into the nominees’ accounts within 10 days.
In honour of Ramappa Temple’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Minister announced that Ramappa sarees would be available in the market soon. The department has created Ramappa sarees that feature the temple’s beautiful sculptures.
According to Rama Rao, the Telangana government has been assisting weavers and the sector through various initiatives and schemes. According to him, the department’s research and development wing had revived the nearly extinct Telia Rumal, Armoor silk sarees, Siddipet Gollabhama sarees, and HIMRU sarees and presented them to the current generation.
To provide financial assistance, the State government launched several flagship programmes, including ‘Chenetha Mithra’ (Input subsidy linked wage compensation scheme), ‘Nethannaku Cheyutha’ (Telangana Handlooms weavers Thrift fund saving and security scheme), ‘Pavala Vaddi’ scheme, a 20% yarn subsidy, and marketing support,’ he explained.
Special teams from Odisha, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh visited Telangana on study tours and studied the implementation of various schemes, according to the Minister.
In order to encourage weavers, the state government established the Konda Laxman Bapuji Award in 2018. Weavers receive a cash award in addition to a certificate and a felicitation, which has been increased from Rs.10,000 to Rs.25,000 since last year. This year, the award was given to 28 weavers. The State government has honoured 131 weavers since the award’s inception, he added.
MLC L Ramana expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for launching yet another innovative and welfare scheme for weavers in the state.
Obtaining insurance coverage for weavers had previously been difficult due to financial constraints, but the Telangana government launched the Nethanna Ku Bima scheme to provide financial assistance to weavers’ families in the event of the breadwinner’s death, he said, adding that “no other State government can boast of such a scheme for weavers.” This demonstrates Telangana’s commitment to the handloom sector and the welfare of weavers.”
As part of the National Handlooms Day celebrations, a special expo cum sale is being held at People’s Plaza, with over 100 stalls from various states set up.
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