Odisha announces monthly financial aid for senior weavers, artisans

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced a new scheme to provide monthly financial assistance to senior weavers and artisans in Odisha.

As per the provisions of the scheme, women weavers, their assistants and artisans of handicrafts sector in the age group of 40 to 80 years will get the monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,000 each, said the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in a statement.

Similarly, male weavers, their assistants and artisans in the age group of 50 to 80 years will get the monthly financial aid.

However, the weavers and the artisans above 80 years of age are eligible for Rs 2,500 as monthly aid, added the CMO.

Earlier, the state government was providing monthly financial assistance Rs 500 to senior weavers and Rs 700 to those above 80 years but there was no such provision for artisans of handicrafts sector, sources said.

“The senior weavers will receive the revised assistance in between February 20 and 25. Steps will be taken to enlist new beneficiaries under the scheme at the earliest,” said the CMO.

The state has now around 1.25 lakh weavers and 1.50 lakh artisans in the handicrafts sector, sources added.

The weavers and the artisans must have been registered with the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms for availing the financial aid.

Similarly, the annual income of the applicants must not be above Rs 1 lakh.

The weavers and artisans, who have been included in any similar schemes of the Centre or state government, will not get any benefit under the new scheme.

The applicants must not be government employees, pension holders and Income Tax payers. Besides, only one applicant from each family is eligible for the assistance.