Odisha Govt Launches Scheme To Provide Monthly Allowance To Senior Weavers & Artisans

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday announced a new scheme to provide monthly allowance to senior weavers and artisans of Odisha.

According to a release from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the scheme, Mukhyamantri Baristha Bunakar O Karigar Sayahata Yojana, aims at extending financial assistance to women weavers, their assistants and handicraft artisans.

The state government will pay monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,000 to female beneficiaries in the age group of 40 to 80 years and male beneficiaries in the age group of 50 to 80 years. The weavers and the artisans above 80 years are eligible for Rs 2,500 monthly allowance.

Earlier, the government was paying Rs 500 to senior weavers and Rs 700 to those above 80 years but there was no provision for handicraft artisans. The government will start the process to identify and register the beneficiaries soon, the release said.

The state has around 1.25 lakh weavers and 1.5 lakh artisans in the handicrafts sector.

In order to be eligible for the scheme, the weavers and the artisans must have been registered with the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms. One member from each family will be eligible for the allowance and the annual income of the applicant must not be more than Rs 1 lakh.

Those already covered under similar schemes of the Centre or state government will not be eligible.