Bhubaneswar, Feb 15 (FN Representative) The Odisha government on Wednesday launched “Mukhyamantri Baristha Bunakar O Karigar Sahayata Yojana(MBBKSY)to provide monthly financial assistance to weavers, weaving assistants, and handicraft artisans in the state. The new scheme was announced by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to provide monthly financial assistance of Rs.2000 to weavers, weaving assistants, and handicraft artisans for their social security and welfare.
CM’s Office sources said under the scheme the female weavers, weaving assistance, and handicraft artisans in the age group of 40 years to 80 years and male weavers, weaving assistants, and handicraft artisans in the age group of 50 years to 80 years will receive the financial assistance of Rs.2000 per month while all those above the age group of 80 years would be paid Rs.2500. Earlier only the weavers in the age group of 60 to 80 years were only getting a monthly financial assistance of Rs.500 and those above the age group of 80 years were receiving financial assistance of Rs.700 per month.
However, there was no provision for any assistance to the handicraft artisans. Official sources said there are over 1,25,000 weavers and weaving assistants and 1,50,000 handicraft artisans in the state. As per guidelines, only the weavers’ or artisans’ families whose annual income is less than one lakh will be entitled to receive financial assistance.