Package for weavers: Rahul wish is Sharma command

Rahuls letter was released by UP Congress spokesman Akhilesh Singh

Four days after Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi shot off a letter to union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma highlighting the plight of weavers in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh,the minister is set to announce a hefty relief package for weavers in Varanasi tomorrow that may include waiver of debt for both co-operative societies and individual weavers and a credit card for weavers.

In his letter on November 14,Rahul referred to the Rs 3,000-crore loan waiver package announced by the finance minister in his budget speech this year. 8230;This has so far not been implemented. It is,therefore,an imperative to ensure that the loan waiver package be implemented at the earliest8230; I would urge you to formulate an appropriate financial package for millions of bunkars,most of whom belong to weaker community and to the minorities. I would strongly recommend measures to ensure availability of yarn at affordable prices,access to credit in easy terms and freight reimbursement to retain the competitiveness of this sector.

He added: I have discussed these matters with you and with the finance minister in person and I trust that these will receive your urgent attention.

Rahuls letter was released by UP Congress spokesman Akhilesh Singh who subsequently sent out Sharmas schedule in Varanasi tomorrow as well.

Rahul had kickstarted the Congresss election campaign on November 14 from Phoolpur,barely 32 km from Varanasi. Around 1.5 lakh weavers are expected to benefit from the announcement to be made tomorrow. There are an estimated 13 lakh weavers across the country.

Sources said the Ministry plans to waive debt of individuals and cooperatives up to a certain limit to help them. It is also likely to announce an interest subvention of 3 per cent to weavers. The weavers could also be given credit cards through which they can take loans up to Rs 2 lakh from public sector banks.

On February 23,2011,Gandhi had led a delegation of bunkars weavers to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his intervention with a Bunkar Package. On August 7,a delegation of bunkars met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Sharma and asked for a loan write-off for handloom and powerloom weavers.