PITIABLE CONDITION OF WEAVERS OF KAPPALADODDI (KRISHNA DISTRICT)-A SURVEY BY SWADESHI JAGARANA MANCH

Posted by : swadeshi jagaran manch Wednesday, 14 March 2012

It is a great pity that there are lakhs of weaver families in our state who are under starvation. Not only in Sirisilla and Dubbak, but also in all districts do we find the disgraceful lives of these families. On October 18, 2011, Swadeshi Jagarana Manch has visited the village of Kappaladoddi of Gudur Mandal in Krishna District. As many as a hundred families crowded round us. Their troubles and tribulations for the 10 to 15 fifteen years are beyond any explanation. While some people submitted their petitions, other burst into tears being unable to outline their woes. While some people have nothing to eat, some others look for death . Thus, everyone’s condition is quite deplorable.When I, accompanied by our team members and Swadeshi Jagarana Manch leader, Sri S. Narsimha Raju, visited the village, the villagers welcomed us with cotton thread bundles. From 11 in the morning to 4 in the evening, those families followed us. They are fed up with indifference of the political parties and the Government. It is very heartbreaking for anyone to see their faces eagerly waiting for any social organizations that would come forward to protect their interests. One can appreciate the purity of their inner self when they lament and pray that such grief as theirs would never come to anyone.

At the local level, Sri Loknath Rao, Y. Kotaiah, Ramesh, Subbaiah and others gave an account of the weavrs’ lives. An awareness camp was held with 200 people for nearly 3 hours. Women , children and youth and the old, everyone talked about his or her plight. With their meager wages and having sold out their properties, they are leading a disgraceful life with heavy debts.

When the weavers lose their lives, their survivors are unable to meet the police enquiry, post mortem or even the funeral expenditure. Can their outcry ever reach the ears of the Government or the Political leaders?

The Government cannot realize how just 4 kilos of rice at the rate of Rs. 2/- per kilo can meet the requirements of such ill fated families.

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While some of the families are unable to educate their children, some others, even if they educate their children by borrowings, fail to repay the debts.

There are so many leading very hard lives in rented homes. They could not get the houses built in the registered plots sanctioned by then Chief Minister, Sri Chandrababu Naidu.

It is very difficult to perform the marriages of their daughters.

It brought tears to everyone’s eyes when a tenth class girl appealed sobbingly to lend a hand to her to go for higher education and not to employ her in the weaving work. Two other tenth class students, Raagamalika and Naveen requested to aid them for their higher studies.

Sri Kotaiah deplored that it is merely seen in newspapers that the Government waives the interest on the loans taken by the societies. But, in fact, the scheme is hardly implemented.

Sri Surendra Babu hoped that it would be a little relief it they had an own house and an own loom.

Smt. Paidamma begged that her daughter, pursuing Triple IT, may be supported financially to meet her expenses.

The families are unable to feed and support their physically and mentally disabled members.

Diseases like diabetes, rheumatism, pneumonia, throat infection, sight heart problems place these families in a great predicament.

The weavers of Kappaladoddi ,who are weaving saris with 800 old pit-looms, are unable to compete with the latest power looms. Sri Utukuri Kotaiah expresses his grief over the fact that there is no support either from the public or from the Government.

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Though there are 5 societies in Kappaladoddi village, they do not receive any support from the Government-deplores Sri Subbaiah.

Sri Madhusudhan Rao grieves that if weavers interests are not protected, suicides become inevitable.

Sri Ekkela Kotaiah feels that the Government schemes are restricted to the public sector alone. They are not reaching the ordinary labourers.

Though there are 15 master weavers in the village, the workers are the pay that they deserve. The Government fails in imparting training in latest designing and and also providing market facilities in a village that is capable of producing 80 count saris.

The weavers are going to Hyderabad, Karnataka and Orissa to market their products. There is every chance of extending the market for their products with highest quality if the Government extends its support.

The fact that the weavers do not receive the bills in time for the products sold to APCO. This adds to their troubles. The societies feel that it would be beneficial for them if the present 12 percent rebate in raised to 15 percent.

While 8oo looms are functioning under the control of Societies, the others are run by the master weavers . These pit looms get damaged when rain water drench them in the pits. This problem can be soved to some extent if the pits are built with cement at the cost of Rs. 300/- a pit. But nobody heeds to it.

There are around 500 workers in the age group of 30 to 40 years. Though they are hard- working by nature, they tend to get disappointed and frustrated as there is no protection for them. There are artists, but there is none to support them. So this field loses its glory.

Under the Antyodaya Scheme, just 65 people get 35 kilos of rice per month. Isn’t it the Government’s responsibility to see that the scheme is extended to the hundreds of other poor families which are crushed under the burden of poverty

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The Society started in this village in 1944. The (dis) credit goes to the Government which has brought the weaving profession to this pathetic stage instead of taking it to higher and higher levels. The Globalization of 1991 and the resultant economic policies have sent tremors into the lives of weavers. In the name of competition age , they are weakening the already sick handloom field and encouraging the multinational companies at the cost of public interest.

The people’s representatives of Kappaladoddi village have never brought the plight the weavers to the notice of the Government so far.

The villagers of Kappaldoddi have never had a chance to outline their problems before the District Collector.

Neither the electronic nor the print media ever attempted to conduct a house to house survey and focus the problems.

What do the villagers of Kappaladoddi want?

1. 35 kilos of rice under the Antyodaya Scheme should be supplied.

2. The Government on its own should take up the construction of houses and sheds in the patta lands.

3. The workers’ medical reimbursement bills should be cleared with immediate effect.

4. Personal loans should be written off fresh, interest free loans sanctioned.

5. The Government should provide free education from primary to higher studies. Scholarships should be paid.

6. Free medical camp should be organized in the village and special medical care be provided for the various ailments prevailing in the village.

7. In time payment of bills for the products purchased by APCO.

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8. Yarn should be supplied to weavers on subsidy.

9. Governemnt should purchase the handloom products and encourage them.

10. Pit looms should be built with cement.

11. The families of the weavers who have committed suicides should be given immediate relief from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund without waiting for the post-mortem report.

12. Special counseling should be arranged for preventing or discouraging suicides.

It is very pleasing to note that the villagers of Kappaladoddi are very cooperative to each other as reported by Sri Loknath rao, Kotaiah, Ramesh and others and their suggestions for solving the problems.

There is every need of the support from the Government and social organizations to improve the condition of the weavers and for the development of the handloom industry in Kappaladoddi.

As we have spent 5 to 6 hours in the village, we could get the real picture of horrible situation prevailing the state. Swadeshi jagarana Manch appeals to the young men and women and various voluntary organizations to bring the plight of the weavers to the notice of the Government. The organization also warns that If the Government lends a deaf ear to it, there will be mammoth public agitation.