Suicide by weavers continues

By Our Staff Reporter

KARIMNAGAR, APRIL 7. Suicide by weavers is continuing with one more death being reported from the district headquarters of Karimnagar on Saturday. With this, the death roll of weavers in the district has gone up to 35.

Devasi Lachaiah (50), a handloom weaver, committed suicide by jumping into the waters of Lower Manair Dam on the outskirts of the town following non-availability of work and non- release of dues from APCO.

The police said that the handloom weaver was working with the Adarsha Weavers Cooperative Society, near Padmanagar in Karimnagar town. The society was closed down a year ago following non-payment of dues to the tune of Rs. 36 lakhs by the State Government to the weavers. Lachiah is survived by his wife, three daughters and two sons. He had performed the marriage of two daughters and he was facing financial problems for performing the marriage of his youngest daughter. Of his two sons, one was working in a shop and the other was unemployed.

The police said that Lachaiah went away from his residence on Friday evening stating that he was going to the society office. When he did not return till late in the night they searched for him. His dead body was found floating in the dam.

Minister visits family

Meanwhile, the Minister for Technical Education, Mr. Alapati Rajendra Prasad, said that the State Government was taking all steps to rehabilitate the powerloom weavers of Sircilla town by formulating short-term and long-term plans.

The Minister visited the residence of handloom weaver, Lachaiah, and consoled the bereaved family members along with the District Collector, Mr. Debabrata Kantha, and others. He expressed heartfelt condolences.

Later, talking to newsmen at the Collectorate meeting hall, Mr. Rajendra Prasad said that their department had decided to diversify the traditional trade of powerloom weavers by providing training in various other trades in which the weavers were interested.

Expressing concern over the death of the handloom weaver in Karimnagar town, he said that the Government had only released the APCO dues of Rs. 26 crores which would directly be handed over to the weavers' cooperative society.

The Collector said as part of the long-term plan for the rehabilitation of powerloom weavers, the ready-made garment- making machine was being deployed from Japan to Sircilla on Sunday to impart training of the local youth to adopt garment- making as a trade instead of powerloom.

Other long-term strategies for the rehabilitation of powerloom weavers included computer training, beautician course, motor mechanic, electrical wiring, TV repairs etc., he said.

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Section  : Southern States
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