Finance
There is good news for Odisha’s elderly weavers and handicraft artists. For their safety and well-being, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has unveiled the “Mukhyamantri Baristha Bunakar O Karigar Sahayata Yojana,” a new initiative.
This initiative will give Rs 2,000 a month in financial help to female weavers, weaving assistants, and artisans between the ages of 40 and 80, as well as to male weavers, assistants, and artisans between the ages of 50 and 80.
Senior weavers above the age of 80, as well as their assistants and senior craftsmen (both men and women), will receive financial support of Rs. 2,500 each month.
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.
