No relief for Banarsi saree industry

VARANASI: Traders, industrialists and weavers on Thursday expressed their disappointment at the union budget giving no relief to the handloom sector, particularly the Banarsi saree industry.

Rajan Bahal, general secretary of the Banarasi Vastra Udyog Association, said, “We were expecting some provisions in the budget for Banarsi saree industry, which is part of the handloom sector. But there is no provision to give relief to the sector from GST. We are disappointed.”

The finance minister should have made specific allocations to

›I had written a letter to the FM for Purvanchal package to ensure industrial growth but there are no provisions to promote industry RK CHAUDHARY , Indian Industries Association (Varanasi)

› We were expecting something for Banarsi saree industry. But there is no relief to the sector from GST. RAJAN BAHAL, general secretary of the Banarasi Vastra Udyog Association,

the handloom sector. He, however, lauded the minister to make a provision for free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh for the poor.

Mohammad Shamsher Khan, a designer of Banarsi sarees, said: “This is not an impressive budget, at least for the handloom sector. No provision has been made for the welfare of the weavers. It would have been good if the government had thought of and made some specific provisions for the weavers.”

RK Chaudhary of the Indian Industries Association (Varanasi) said although the budget was balanced, there were no provisions to promote industry in eastern UP. Chaudhary claimed he had written a letter to the finance minister, demanding a Purvanchal package to ensure industrial growth in this region. “There is no such provision in the budget. Therefore, we are disappointed,” he said. Mohammad Abdul Mateen, a Banarasi saree trader, also said there was no provision to promote the handloom industries. Professor JB Komaraih of the department of economics at Banaras Hindu University said, “This is a health sector focused budget, making provision for health care support for people of the financially weaker section. It also focuses on ensuring development in rural pockets.” “Although the budget makes a provision to increase the minimum support price 1.5 times, there is no word about implementing the Swaminathan committee’s recommendations for farmers,” Komaraih said.

Manisha Mehrotra, associate professor at BHU’s department of economics, said a provision to support meritorious students for engineering and medical in the reserved category was a “very nice step”.