Himachal Pradesh industries Minister Bikram Singh recently met Indian Textiles Minister Smriti Irani in New Delhi to apprise her about various pending issues of the State and requested for early approvals and release of funds under various schemes. He said half of the amount for 49 technical programmes had been released and the rest is yet to be.
Twenty one projects for training and upgradation of skills of artisans and weavers were sent to the Ministry out of which only six had been sanctioned. A proposal of Akhara Bazaar in Kullu to cover 96 weavers is also awaiting approval, a Himachal Government said quoting the State Minister.
A sum of Rs. 2.02 cr under marketing proposals and claims of eight primary weavers societies for the last three financial years was also pending. Singh requested Irani to sanction three more clusters for weavers of Mandi, Kullu and Kangra. Two clusters amounting to Rs. 96.25 lakh each were sanctioned for weavers of the State.