The Akhila Karnataka Kaimagga Nekarara Sangha (All Karnataka Handloom Weavers Association), MLC and president, M.D. Lakshminarayana has urged the State government to allow functioning of powerlooms in residential buildings. As from the past, weavers have been running handlooms and powerlooms fixed with shuttle in their dwelling place.

As per the Cluster Development Plan (CDP) for textile industry formed by the State government in 2013, powerlooms are barred from functioning in residential areas.

Based on this, the trade licences are not issued and environment clearance is not provided by the authorities concerned to run powerlooms in residential buildings in a few urban centres.

The State government should bring necessary amendment to the CDP and allow the functioning of powerlooms in residential buildings. The government should not consider weaving as an industry or a commercial activity, but a part of the culture and lifestyle of Nekara communities.

Mr. Lakshminarayan said that the cloth for uniforms distributed among the students of government schools should also be purchased from local weavers.

He further also urged the government to establish marketing committees for weavers also at the district level on a a similar model of Agriculture Produces Marketing Committees formed by the government have ensured a suitable platform to market the agriculture produces.