Rs 2.25-crore handloom project in red tape

KOZHIKODE: In yet another case of red-tapism, a project for the rehabilitation of tribal women, especially unwed mothers in Wayanad district, remains on paper.A fund of Rs 2.25 crore which was sanctioned in 2008 for starting a handloom unit in the Thirunelli panchayat, which comprises the highest number of unwed tribal mothers in the state, has not been released yet by the authorities citing technical reasons.The project was formulated in 2007-08 as part of expanding the handloom and powerloom unit working in Thrissilery near Thirunelli to provide employment for  200 Adivasi women in the handloom sector.A sum of `29 lakh was sanctioned in the initial stage in 2008 for imparting training to the women. This fund, however, has already been utilised but the project has not taken off.“This is a clear act of negligence on the part of the authorities towards a marginalised section. The Department of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, district administration and the grama panchayat should intervene in the issue and release the fund immediately,” said State Women’s Commission member T Devi.The rehabilitation project for unwed tribal mothers in association with the Wayanad Handloom, Powerloom and Multipurpose Industrial Cooperative Society was commissioned in 2001 as per the wish of the then Industries Minister Suseela Gopalan. The concept was to convert the project area of 13.40 acres to a self-reliant village predominated by Adivasis.At present, the unit with powerloom and pre-loom facilities is manufacturing handloom products such as sarees, shirting, bed sheets, lungies and furnishing clothing. “Though the fund was sanctioned by the Industries Department in 2008, there has been no intimation from the officials since then,” said P V Sahadevan, president of the Wayanad Handloom, Powerloom and Multipurpose Industrial Cooperative Society.When contacted, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Department officials said that the fund release was delayed due to the delay by the Finance Department in the sanctioning of the fund.