More than 100 weavers attend handloom expo

Dehradun, April 5
In a daylong All-India Handloom Weavers’ Conference organised at the National Handloom Expo 2012, insurance companies laid emphasis on seeking maximum benefit from the comprehensive welfare schemes set up by the Uttarakhand Handloom and Handicraft Development Council (UHHDC).

Expressing his concern over the less number of enrollments of weavers for the life insurance coverage, Dr PS Gosain, Director (Industries), Uttarakhand, said, “Less number of weavers are availing the life insurance scheme provided by the Government of India. The insurance scheme for weavers is a small investment plan, which can be availed by the enrolled members with the maximum coverage. For additional benefits, an associated scheme of education scholarship is also given to handloom weavers along with the credit cards scheme,” he added.

However, for medical claim, handloom weavers can get a membership card as a premium amount of the policy that accredits four family members of the weaver, owing them the limited amount for operations, treatments and medicines as per the requirement. The Centre as well as the state government has also contributed in the coverage amount of the insured policy.

More than 100 weavers and artisans from 12 states attended the convention and got clarifications on their doubts by experts and personnel of the department.

Apart from this, SC Nautiyal, Additional Director (Industry), Uttarakhand, spoke on providing maximum benefit for the development of the handloom sector through group insurance schemes. “The council, in association with the Government of India, is aiming at formulating multiple training centres for converting raw fabric materials into the end product. Forming of clusters and local groups, providing equipments, raw material, training, emporiums to display and a marketing team get relevant value for their work in a most effective manner,” said Nautiyal.

Weavers from the local handloom clusters and from other states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, Orissa and Assam attended the convention.

Present on the occasion were Deputy Director (Industry) GC Pandey and assistant director Shaily Dabral among others.