Vijayapura : The weavers of Vijayapura have voiced their opposition to a recent notice issued by the municipality mandating that handlooms and power looms obtain commercial licenses. The concerned weavers argue that there is no such requirement for loom operators in the state, as loom operations fall under cottage industry rather than commercial activities.
Expressing their discontent, Anil Kumar, a weaver, highlighted the challenges already faced in sustaining a livelihood through loom operation and emphasized that obtaining a commercial license would only exacerbate their financial burdens. He further revealed that they have been warned to pay ₹1,000 per loom for these licenses.
Additionally, the weavers pointed out that despite their efforts in producing sarees, they encounter difficulties in selling them due to a lack of government support. With no guaranteed market for their products and limited income from operating the looms, they question how they can afford the mandatory licensing fees.
With approximately 600 families engaged in this profession across 600 looms within Vijayapura town, weaver Manjunath emphasized that if there is indeed a directive from the government regarding licensing requirements, they urge authorities to provide clear guidelines.
Furthermore, several other local weavers, including Narayanaswamy, Murthy Mahesh, and Kesavamurthy, echoed similar concerns over this sudden imposition of mandatory licensing fees during these challenging times. They are awaiting an official response from municipal authorities or an order from the government regarding this issue.