Dr. Lenin (Ashoka Fellow)
Convener
People’s Vigilance Committee for Human Rights (PVCHR), Varanasi
June 13th, 2006
Convener
People’s Vigilance Committee for Human Rights (PVCHR), Varanasi
June 13th, 2006
On 23 May 2006, a Round table meeting was organized under joint aegis of PVCHR, Malviya center for peace research and Bunkar Dastkar Adhikar Manch. The topic of Round Table Meeting was "Banarasi Sarees: Crisis and Solution". In the meeting representatives of different political parties and weaver's organizations expressed their concern over the situation of centuries old weaving industry pitiable conditions of millions of weavers of Varanasi district.
PVCHR and Bunkar Dastkar Adhikar Manch have been working to help the weavers. FIAN INTERNATIONAL, a human Right organization based in Germany and Asian Human Rights Commission are working with PVCHR to redress the problems of weavers in India.
PVCHR has proposed the concept of 'Varanasi Weavers Trust'.
Dr.Sayeeda Hamid, a member of planning commission visited Varanasi to have a talk with PVCHR and with the representatives of different weavers organizations.
On 25 May 2006 Handicraft Development Commissioner visited Varanasi and declared that the policy of 'Handloom Mark' would be implemented in favour of weavers by July 2006. It would be greatly helpful for weavers, as the quality of weavers' goods would not be suspected in foreign countries. Further he told that the central Government has given her consent to start Credit Guarantee Scheme in favour of Handloom weavers. Under this scheme weavers can get up to Rs 25000/ without any Guaranty. He also exchanged his views with weavers over the demand of 'Yarn Depot'.
