The Central Government as a revival, reform and restructuring package for the Kerala handloom sector has sanctioned Rs 141 crore for the current fiscal. Kerala is the first state to make use of the Central rehabilitation package for the handloom sector. This was announced by Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty on Wednesday.

The Minister Kunhalikutty, distributing Rs 9.6 crore as assistance to the primary societies in the handloom sector of nine districts in the first phase, said that in 2012-13, Rs 3 crore had been distributed. In the second phase, the norms have been diluted to make 232 more societies eligible for assistance.

The Central assistance will turned out to be a great relief to the handloom sector which had been reeling under severe crisis.

The Minister handed over the cheques to District Cooperative Bank presidents of Kollam, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kasargode. Altogether, 54 societies in these districts have been benefitted. Assistance will be handed over to three more districts soon, the Industries Minister said.

As per the Central Government’s rehabilitation package for the handloom sector societies, 100 percent loan liability and 25 percent interests would be written off. Kunhalikutty said Rs 58 crore had already been given to the Hantex.

Hantex the only Apex Co-operative Society of Handloom weavers’ in Kerala having over 440 production centres and 150 sales outlets with most modern infrastructure to produce hand crafted fabrics, garments, furnishings, made-ups, sarees, traditional wears etc. strictly in tune and harmony with eco friendly norms for internal and export market.