The state government of Telangana will introduce the "Nethana Beema" program on August 7 with the goal of providing financial support to the bereaved families of handloom and power loom weavers, said minister KT Rama Rao on Monday.
According to KTR, the Telangana government is putting into action a variety of welfare schemes to improve the state's weaver community.
To help the bereaved families of handloom and power loom weavers, the government is launching the "Nethana Beema" scheme, which is modeled after the Rythu Beema Scheme. This scheme will be launched on National Handloom Day on August 7, 2022,” he added.
Under the scheme, Rs 5 lakhs would be given to the weaver's family members.
The Minister stated that within 10 days after the weaver's death, the money will be credited to the family member's bank account.
The nodal agency for the implementation of this scheme will be the state government's Department of Handlooms and Textiles.
KTR further informed that the state government has entered into an agreement with the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) for this scheme.
Additionally, he said that Telangana's government would be paying the LIC's premium.
For this scheme, the government has allotted Rs 50 crores, of which Rs 25 crores have already been released. Weavers below the age of 60 years are eligible for the scheme. The scheme benefits about 80,000 handloom and power loom weavers.
According to Minister KTR, committees at the state and district levels would soon be constituted to carry out the Nethana Beema scheme.
Since 2016–17, the Telangana government has set aside a specific budget (from BC Welfare) of Rs 1,200 crores each year to support the handloom and power loom sectors. The Department of Handlooms and Textiles already has a regular budget, but this is in addition to it, he said.
"For the fiscal year 2022–2023, the Department of Handlooms and Textiles has been given a regular budget of Rs. 55.12 crores by the Telangana Government. Another Rs 400 Crores were allocated for the welfare of the weaker sections,” the Minister added.
According to Minister KTR, no other state government in the nation is carrying out welfare schemes for the community of weavers like the Telangana government. He stated that representatives from Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Odisha visited Telangana and praised the state's initiatives.
Prior to its August 7 launch, KTR held a review meeting for the Neethana Beema Scheme.
The officials told the minister that they are spreading information about the scheme among the weavers. Minister KTR offered the officials instructions for the scheme's successful implementation during the meeting.
