Resume subsidy for poor weavers of J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh: Congress

NEW DELHI: Concern over stoppage of subsidy on woollen yarn by the Centre was expressed in Rajya Sabha today with a Congress member alleging that the step has badly affected the livelihood of weavers in Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Viplove Thakur (Cong) alleged that while subsidy is being given to silk and cotton yarn weavers in Varanasi, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi represents, and Gujarat where he hails from, it had been stopped for the poor weavers of woollen yarn.

"The government has stopped the subsidy on woollen yarn which has affected poor women and weavers in Himachal, Jammu Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh. While subsidy on silk yarn in Varanasi, which is represented by Prime Minister Modi and on cotton yarn in Gujarat, where Modi hails from, is been given, the same on woollen yarn has been stopped," she said.

Women weavers have been badly affected due to this and are sitting idle. "Modi government should take care of the poor ...Swadeshi things are being removed," she alleged.

Almost the entire opposition supported her in the demand with Anand Sharma (Cong) saying handloom and handicraft sector provided second largest employment in the country and care should be taken on restoration of subsidy on wool yarn.

"This is a serious matter. You should preserve the rich heritage of the country," he said.

Raising another issue, Jharna Das Baidya (CPI-M) said the Centre has deprived widows, unmarried and divorced employees from the benefits of family pension and steps were required to restore the benefit.

"They are already deprived. They are already victims of social and economic exploitation. Such women should be granted pension," she said.

Questioning why the government was not providing pension to widows when states like Tripura can, she demanded that they be given pension of at least Rs 6,000 per month.

Ramdas Athawale (RPI-A) sought withdrawal of notices to shut down 600 colleges by AICTE that will affect over 3 lakh students across the country.

He urged Union HRD Ministry to intervene and ask AICTE not to close such colleges but grant them permission to rectify the shortcomings so that the careers of 3 lakh students are not adversely affected.