Congress set to launch 'Indira Vastra Bhagya'

Bengaluru: The ruling Congress party has planned for a new scheme ‘Indira Vastra Bhagya’ to provide sarees and dhotis to below-poverty line (BPL) families.

Textiles Minister Rudrappa M Lamani has sent the file to the Finance department seeking clearance. The scheme would cost upto Rs 550 crore.

Inspired by former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s ‘Society Sari-Dhoti’ scheme, the Indira Vastra Bhagya will cover 1.10 crore BPL families: Men will receive a set of poly cotton panche and poly viscose shirt piece and women get polyester saree and poly cotton blouse piece.                                                    

Once the finance minister approves on the plan, the scheme is set to release.

The scheme is also set to promote the handloom industry and families working under this sector.

“Some of these families are struggling because the cloth they weave don’t fetch the right price. We plan to directly buy cloth from these weavers for this scheme, which will help them,” Lamani said.