Handlooms, handicrafts will flourish: KTR

Hyderabad: Handlooms and Textiles Minister KT Rama Rao said on Wednesday that the TRS government was committed to promoting and boosting handlooms and handicrafts across the State.

At a review meeting at the Secretariat here , KTR directed Commissioner Shailaja Rama Iyer and officials to open Golconda (erstwhile Lepakshi) showrooms in district headquarters and promote in a big way handlooms and handicrafts. The handicrafts business had been named Golconda by the government so as to reflect the age-old culture and traditions of the State.

The State government was ready to fund the Golconda showrooms in Siricilla, Warangal and Siddipet on a pilot basis. Later, the project could be expanded to cover other districts in a phased manner. The Handlooms and Textiles Minister took a slew of decisions to encourage artisans and crafts persons by opening a common facility at Nirmal by spending Rs 1.5 crore; zari and firdousi workshop for Muslim women in Medak, and a handicrafts training center for youth in Hyderabad.

When contacted by KTR on phone, local Minister A Indrakarn Reddy informed him that he would release Rs 1.5 crore estimated as cost for establishing the Nirmal common facility. A temporary center would accommodate the Nirmal facility until a new building was constructed, he said.

The Minister directed Warangal Collector Amrapali to allot 1,500 sft area and asked Medak Collector to take immediate steps for setting up a zari and firdousi workshop and also a showroom in the district. Ranga Reddy officials were directed to hand over Child Welfare center at Yellamma Thanda area to ST handicrafts artisans.

He also maintained that a training centre for youth would be opened in Hyderabad and asked the officials to prepare a proposal to provide accommodation in a government building which was ready. He asked the officials to submit a report on cooperation and funds from the State and Centre for handicrafts and handloom departments.