Union Budget 2023: Varanasi Handloom Workers Expect Power Subsidy In Budget

A handloom worker, Abdul Kalam Azad, said that workers of the sector expect the government to bring back the old subsidized rates.

New Delhi: Handloom workers in Varanasi are expecting electricity subsidies for their businesses in the Union Budget on Wednesday.

The Union Budget will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1.

News agency ANI reached out to a few people in Varanasi to inquire about their opinions and anticipations for this year's budget.

Abdul Kalam Azad, a handloom worker said that workers of the sector expect the government to bring back the old subsidized rates, reported ANI.

"75 per cent of people of the city are associated with the handloom business. Our biggest challenge is electricity, few years back, the bill used to be Rs 75 per loom, it was the subsidized rate. Later it was 500 But now it is Rs 300. We expect the government to bring back the old subsidized rates," ANI quoted Azad as saying.

"If the government fulfils our demand, our business of power loom will grow here. We can save some of our earnings," he added.

Another handloom worker, Mohammed Haneef Hansari, citing a similar problem stated, "Power must become subsidized like before. People are quitting this industry and are taking other jobs. Government must help us or else our business will decline further."

Manufacturers of banarasi sarees and others involved in the handloom industry are coping with the effects of Covid on the market and have high expectations for this Union Budget.

"We should be provided with electricity properly. I agree that the government is providing all the necessary facilities to us, but we don't get them due to corruption. So government should do something about this. We want to sell out products to the government directly and demand to make a solution for this," Karimuddin Ansari.

The Union Budget 2023-24 will be the last full-fledged budget of the Modi government before the 2024 general elections.

The first part of the session will be held from January 31 and will go on till February 13. It will see the debate in both Houses on the 'Motion of Thanks' to the President's address which will conclude with a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The second part of the Budget Session will resume after a recess on March 13 before ending on April 6. This part of the Parliament session will focus on the Demand for Grants for various ministries and the passing of the Union Budget. Other legislative businesses will also be taken up by the government during this period.

(With inputs from ANI)