Helpline for handloom weavers goes live

A helpline for handloom weavers called 'Bunkar Mitra', set up by the government, went live today.
It can be accessed by dialling the toll free number 1800-208-9988.
Through the helpline, weavers can obtain assistance on technical issues, guidance for raw material supply, availing credit facility, quality control, access to marketing linkages and information about various schemes and procedures to avail benefits.
One of the key features of 'Bunkar Mitra' is that the grievance/query raised by weavers has to be resolved in 72 hours. If the grievance/query is not resolved within the given time frame, it will automatically be redirected to a director-level officer.

"A back-end dashboard has been set up not only to keep track of the queries/grievances but also find areas where weavers face maximum difficulty," the Textiles Ministry tweeted.
The helpline was launched by Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani on December 25.

"She (Irani) told the officials of the Textiles Ministry to monitor issues on which maximum complaints are received so that corrective actions can be taken accordingly," an official statement said.
The minister has also instructed officials to prepare a monthly report to analyse the nature of grievances and keep track of redressals.
The helpline provides a single point of contact to handloom weavers across the country for addressing queries and providing guidance.

The service is available in seven languages: Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada and Assamese.