K.T. Rama Rao – popularly known as KTR who is Handlooms and Textiles Minister of Indian state Telangana – has urged the Union government, a few weeks ahead of the Union Budget 2023-24, to allot adequate funds to the state’s handlooms sector.
KTR said that the Centre hasn’t extended any financial support to Telangana’s textile sector in past eight years and, as the upcoming budget will be the last full budget of the ruling party in the centre before next elections, he appeals to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central Government to prove its commitment to the weavers and textiles sector of the Southern state of India.
“At least Rs. 900 crore should be allotted in the upcoming budget towards infrastructure for the Kakatiya Mega Textile Park and other programmes,” he said.
The Handlooms and Textiles Minister appealed that the powerloom sector in Sircilla, which has over 25,000 powerloom machines, be recognised as Mega Powerloom Cluster and Rs. 100 crores should be allotted to it.
KTR further said that it takes over Rs. 990 crore for strengthening of value chain, modernisation of powerlooms in Sircilla, improvement of market, skill development, capacity building, project monitoring and appealed that a major share of the funds has to be announced in the budget.
It’s worth noting here that there are over 40,000 handloom weavers in various parts of Telangana.
Furthermore, KTR urged the Centre to grant Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, National Textiles Research Institute and Handlooms Exports Promotion Council to Telangana in this budget.
He also made a special appeal to scrap the GST on handlooms products to save the weavers who are in financial crisis.
