Dharmavaram weavers migrate to Telangana for better earnings

Nalgonda: With the initiatives taken up by the State government, the income levels of weavers have been increased. Weavers from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh State are migrating to Telangana to get higher earnings.

Weavers from Dharmavaram, who are working in Chandur in Nalgonda are the live proof for it. About 12 families from Dharmavaram of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh, famous for making of pattau saris, migrated to Chandur in search of place and better pay. In their words, their lives were completely changed after migrating to Telangana, two-years ago.

The members of 12 weaver families from Dharmavaram were working on 22 looms at Chandur and each weaver has been getting more than Rs 16,000 income per month when compared to their earning in their native place for the same work. Master weavers have provided looms and shelter facility to them at Chandur that has reduced their expenditures.

Speaking to Tabloid Today, Sidhanadam Nagarjuna (35), a weaver from Dharmavaram who migrated to Chandur, says that he entered into his caste based profession at the age of 14 and worked 10 hours in a day. Reminding that Dharmavaram pattu saris, which were prepared in his native place, were famous in the market. He narrates that his income was just Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 per month earlier. His income was not sufficient to buy even a square meal for his family members. Hence, he migrated to Chandur two years back along with wife and two children after learning that he can get better pay for his work here. As his wife was good in weaving too, “We now together earn together Rs 24,000 per month by working on two looms,” he says.

Another weaver from Dharmavaram, Vallepu Ravi Kumar (36) has deplored that he has entered into the profession at the age of 16 years and never earned more than Rs 7,000 per month in his native place for his work. After migrating to Chandur, he is earning a minimum of Rs 15,000 per month.

Similarly, a woman weaver, Mallela Adhi Lakshmi, who belongs to Dharmavaram in Andhra Pradesh, says that she and her husband arrived at Chandur two-months ago. Her family’s income is Rs 20,000 per month here.

Master weaver Srinivas says, “The looms from Dharmavaram were bar-coded by the handlooms department on their name. It facilitates them to come under coverage of thrift scheme, which was launched by our State government few months ago,” he says. “Such facility was not available in their native State,” he adds. “Thanks to the State Government, in particular, Minister for IT and Textile K Taraka Rama Rao for his love towards the weavers,” he concludes.

Source:  https://telanganatoday.com/dharmavaram-weavers-migrate-telangana-better-earnings