The powerloom weavers of Sircilla textile town have expedited the work on weaving Bathukamma sarees to be distributed by the State government to women from below poverty line (BPL) families for the ensuing Bathukamma festival. Meanwhile, the district administration has opened a saree procurement centre.
Though the government, at the behest of Minister for Textiles and Municipal Administration K.T. Rama Rao, had placed the order worth ₹200 crore to produce 97 lakh sarees with the powerloom weavers of the textile town in May, the production took off only in June and that too on a low key.
Weaving has gained momentum this month and so far, the weavers have produced around 18 lakh sarees against the target. The deadline set for the production of sarees is August 15. Following the steady increase in the production of sarees, the Rajanna Sircilla district administration has opened a procurement centre. On Friday, District Collector D. Krishna Bhaskar inspected the sarees that were produced by the weavers here. The Handlooms Development Commissioner Shailaya Ramayyar has been frequently visiting the textile town and giving instructions to the Handlooms and Textile Department officials, the weavers and the owners of powerlooms to increase the saree production. The officials have asked the weavers to alter their traditional looms by adding features costing ₹3,000 to weave Bathukamma sarees.
Each saree, including a blouse, would measure 6.3 metres. Two varieties of sarees are being produced, one with a border for the elderly women and the printed one for the younger ones.
More looms
Assistant Director (Handlooms and Textiles) Ashok Rao said they were taking all steps to achieve the target by August 15.
So far, 10,019 powerlooms were engaged in weaving the sarees and an additional 12,000 looms would be pressed into service, he said. He said they had involved 56 MACS’ societies and 268 small scale industries in the production. The production was hampered owing to the delay in supply of yarn while weavers were unable to get the working capital. However, the administration has been taking all steps to overcome the hurdles and achieve the target, he maintained.