Smriti Irani emphasises the need for increasing the education among weavers and artisans

Textiles minister K T Rama Rao on Thursday raised issues of concern on GST and health insurance at a meeting in New Delhi on Centre-State collaboration to promote handloom and handicrafts. Union textiles minister Smriti Irani chaired the meeting.

The minister spoke on the state’s progress on geotagging of handlooms, providing 50% subsidy on yarn and dyes, the thrift scheme, and the buy back scheme. KTR is a strong votary of handlooms and wears handlooms shirts on Mondays.

During the meet , Smriti Irani appealed to all states to play a pivotal role in decision making for the growth of textiles sector.Smriti Irani urged ministers to set a target and regularly review activities at



handloom and handicraft clusters. She also emphasised the need for increasing education among weavers and artisans and their families by encouraging them to enrol with NIOS/IGNOU through the ministry of textiles. The union minister said the India Handloom brand launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a bridge between weaver, manufacturer and consumer ensuring increased earnings for weavers and quality products for consumers.

Smriti Irani asked officials at the centre and in all states to ensure that benefits of all Government Schemes including Ujwala Yojana, Swachhta Abhiyan reach the weavers, along with the initiatives taken by the union textiles ministry.