The textiles department of West Bengal has begun a drive to distribute credit cards to weavers that will enable each of them to avail of a loan of up to Rs 25,000. The department is also setting up handloom circuits across the state to give specialized training to weavers and to market handloom products. The textile department after see the success rate of farmer credit card took the initiative to have a similar drive for the weavers.

Department officials have spoken with NABARD and another leading nationalized bank along with rural banks so that weavers can get loan.

Textiles director Debasis Ghosh said that a special drive is underway to distribute the weaver’s credit card across several districts. So far, 17,858 such credit cards have been issued and they are expecting to issue over a lakh weavers credit card by December to help weavers industry.

In August, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had inaugurated the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology at Fulia in Nadia. They are also setting up handloom circuits in several places where weavers will be given training and where their products will be marketed.

Apart from the weaver’s credit card , the textile department is also working to introduce old age pension scheme and health insurance for weavers. Altogether 4,375 weavers above 60 years will be brought into the ambit of pension scheme in which they will get a pension of Rs 750 per month. This scheme in a small way will help security the weaver’s old age.

Camps were being set up in Nadia, Murshidabad, Burdwan, Hooghly and Malda to enroll weavers and issue credit cards to them.