Handloom Board may compensate weavers for flood damage
Sunday, 12 August 2007
The Bangladesh Handloom Board (BHB) is likely to allocate Tk 200 million (20 crore) as grant for the flood-affected 50 to 70 thousand small weavers, according to sources, reports BSS.
The sources have indicated that a rehabilitation package including the grant for the weavers is under consideration for overcoming the floods and post-flood situation.
Excepting a few, all the 0.8 million weavers are financially vulnerable, the sources added.
Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute Abdur Rashid Sarker told the news agency Saturday that the rehabilitation programme for the weavers would be finalised by the ministry according to the direction of the adviser.
Chairman of the BHB Abdul Hakim Mondal said the extent of flood damage is being assessed with the recession of the floodwaters by the basic centres of his organisation.
The assessment would be finalised with the help of local government representatives and UNOs, he said adding that the ministry would then take its own course of action.
Hakim Mondal said the BHB is sending the field reports to the ministry for its direction.
The marginal weavers, who have either one or two handlooms, will be considered as the initial target group to be rehabilitated first and then the others will come under the priority, said BHB General Manger MR Shahid.
Before the current floods, the BHB was busy with developing marketing facilities for the weavers, which included increasing the number of the basic centres to 50 from the current 30, getting approval from the ECNEC for four projects and maintaining the flow of soft loans to the weavers.
At least for a few weeks, the BHB will have to keep its normal programmes and initiatives virtually suspended for meeting the urgency of the situation created by the floods, the sources said.
At present, the 'dadan' or the advance from the private traders is the main source for the weavers to meet the urgency, as it is a quick process of getting money.
The 'dadan' with its hard conditions is very disastrous for the poor weavers because of high rates of interest, according to various weaving associations.
Established in 1978, the BHB has been trying to solve the problems of the weavers.
The sources have indicated that a rehabilitation package including the grant for the weavers is under consideration for overcoming the floods and post-flood situation.
Excepting a few, all the 0.8 million weavers are financially vulnerable, the sources added.
Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute Abdur Rashid Sarker told the news agency Saturday that the rehabilitation programme for the weavers would be finalised by the ministry according to the direction of the adviser.
Chairman of the BHB Abdul Hakim Mondal said the extent of flood damage is being assessed with the recession of the floodwaters by the basic centres of his organisation.
The assessment would be finalised with the help of local government representatives and UNOs, he said adding that the ministry would then take its own course of action.
Hakim Mondal said the BHB is sending the field reports to the ministry for its direction.
The marginal weavers, who have either one or two handlooms, will be considered as the initial target group to be rehabilitated first and then the others will come under the priority, said BHB General Manger MR Shahid.
Before the current floods, the BHB was busy with developing marketing facilities for the weavers, which included increasing the number of the basic centres to 50 from the current 30, getting approval from the ECNEC for four projects and maintaining the flow of soft loans to the weavers.
At least for a few weeks, the BHB will have to keep its normal programmes and initiatives virtually suspended for meeting the urgency of the situation created by the floods, the sources said.
At present, the 'dadan' or the advance from the private traders is the main source for the weavers to meet the urgency, as it is a quick process of getting money.
The 'dadan' with its hard conditions is very disastrous for the poor weavers because of high rates of interest, according to various weaving associations.
Established in 1978, the BHB has been trying to solve the problems of the weavers.