The Implementation of Baristha Bunakar Sahayata Yojana (BBSY) for Weavers of Odisha

EXTRAORDINARY PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

N o . 6 9 4 , C U T T A C K , T U E SD A Y , A P R I L 1 1 , 2 0 1 7 / C H A I T R A 2 1 , 1 9 3 9

[No. 1696–II Tex.–116/2016/H,T & H.] HANDLOOMS, TEXTILES AND HANDICRAFTS DEPARTMENT RESOLUTION The 3rd April, 2017 Sub: IMPLEMENTATION OF BARISTHA BUNAKAR SAHAYATA YOJANA”

1. (BBSY) FOR WEAVERS OF ODISHA. Introduction: Odisha is famous for its handloom products with intricate IKAT designs, which is popularly known as bandha (tie-dye) design. The handloom weaving in the State is a part

of its great cultural heritage and the artistry of the weavers is transferred from generation

to generation which has kept the tradition alive amidst fast mechanization. Hand-woven fabric produced in different parts of Odisha draws inspiration from the nature and the strength lies in innovative and intricate designs woven/ produced by the weavers of the State. As per the report of the National Handloom Census 2009-2010, the State has 40683 weaver households working on 43652 handlooms. The bulk of weaver households come from the other backward castes/scheduled castes/schedule tribe communities who reside in clusters in rural areas. Long years of strenuous working with yarns, dyes & chemicals, weaving creative, intricate and iconic designs on handloom, they are torch bearers to the ancient weaving heritage unique to Odisha. Equally, their specialized skills are internalized within the young in the family and thus contribute irreplaceably keeping the legacy alive from generation to generation. In recognition of their unparalleled contribution, and as a security support to aid

their Old age, it is proposed to provide “BARISTHA BUNAKAR SAHAYATA YOJANA” to

weavers of 60 years and above. Short Title and Commencement:

This Scheme may be called “BARISTHA BUNAKAR SAHAYATA YOJANA” (BBSY)

This shall be applicable throughout the State of Odisha.

This shall come into force from the date of notification by the Government of Odisha Gazette.

Weavers including full time ancillary workers will be covered under this Scheme from the date it comes into force.

Definition of Bunakar and Full Time Ancillary worker: a) Bunakar : Bunakar is a person who weaves fabric on a handloom. b) Full time Ancillary worker : Ancillary worker is a person who is engaged in allied activities of handloom fabric production other than weaving on loom, such as preparation of warp/weft, reeling, sizing, dyeing and tie-dye making.

Family includes the following members living in Common mess. a. Wife/husband b. Sons or step sons or sons legally adopted through a legal deed. c. Unmarried daughters and unmarried stepdaughters. d. Widowed daughter or daughter–in–law residing permanently with the family e. Unmarried or widowed sister permanently residing with the family f. Dependent father/ mother

(i) is of 60 years of age and above (ii) must have worked at least preceding 20 years in the respective profession (at the time of attaining 60 years). For the purpose, Bunakars and full time ancillary workers will be eligible. or, is a widow (irrespective of age, subject to the condition that her husband had been a bunakar / full time ancillary worker for at least 10 years at the time of death). (iii) whose family income from all sources does not exceed Rs. 1,00,000/- per annum (Tahsildar concerned to certify). (iv) is a permanent resident / domicile of Odisha. (v) Both the Bunakar and ancillary workers should have valid weavers identity card issued in his/her name by the State / Central Government. (vi) The applicant should furnish an affidavit or self declaration that he/she is not in receipt of any other monthly financial assistance/pension from the State or Central Government. (vii) The applicant should furnish an affidavit or self declaration that he/ she has not been convicted of any criminal offence, provided that the Government may, having regard to the circumstances of each case, waive this disability, if in their judgment, the conviction was based on ground other than moral turpitude. Explanation: Where more than one member of a family qualifies the eligibility, only one of them will be entitled for benefit under this scheme.

The amount of assistance payable to each person under the scheme shall be of such amount as may be decided by State Government from time to time, the present rate of assistance being Rs.500/- per month per person aged 60 years and above; and Rs 700/- per month per person aged 80 years and above.

(a) Application Form: Application in form BBSY-I may be obtained from the Zonal Office of the Directorate of Textiles working for Handloom sector or from website of Department of Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts. (b) Submission of application: Application in the prescribed form (BBSY - I) filled correctly in duplicate along with the documents (enclosed) shall be submitted to the Zonal Officer (DDT/ADT as the case may be). Zonal Officer will then make necessary entry of the particulars in a register duly maintained at his/her level in order of priority basing on the date of receipt of application. Such priority must be maintained in sanctioning of assistance under BBSY. List of documents to be submitted along with BBSY-I form:— (i) Three identical self attested copies of recent passport size colour photograph. (ii) Self attested copy of the Weavers Identity Card. (iii) Self attested xerox copy of the 1st page of the individual Savings Bank Pass Book showing photograph, full name, name of father/spouse, address, bank, branch, account number, IFSC and MICR code details into which the assistance will be deposited. Account must be in the name of the applicant as submitted in the application form. Account must be opened in a bank with core banking facility to enable digital transfer of assistance. (iv) Certificate regarding total annual family income from the concerned Tahasildar. (v) Proof of age. (vi) An affidavit that he/she is not in receipt of any such assistance from either State or Central Government. (c) Verification of Application: The application will be received by the Zonal Officer and entered in a separate Application Register. He/she shall then cause it to be jointly enquired through at least two officials from the cadre of Sub- Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Society / Weaving Supervisor /Inspector of Textiles /Technical Assistant. Applications received should be handed over within 15 days from its receipt to the team for verification. (d) On receipt of the application from the Zonal Officer, the above team will enquire into the eligibility of the applicant, thoroughly scrutinize the documents enclosed, conduct physical verification and record their findings on the body of the application in appropriate column and submit the same to the concerned Zonal Officer within a period of 30 days. In order to avoid duplication of the sahayata benefit under the scheme is necessary to obtain the certificate from the concerned Block Development Officer who is the nodal officer for different pensionary schemes of Govt. in the Block such as the Madhubabu Pension Yojna , Widow pension , National Old age pension etc. regarding non receipt of any such pension by the applicant. After detailed scrutiny of the verification report submitted by the verifying officials, one copy of the application of eligible cases shall be recommended to the Directorate of Textiles, Odisha along with a certificate in Pro Forma-III within a period of 30 days in order of priority for sanction. (e) Proof of Age: The age of the applicant mentioned in the application is to be verified from any one of the following categories: (i) Electoral Photo Identity Card. (ii) AADHAAR Card (iii) High School Certificate (iv) Birth Registration Certificate. (f) The Zonal Officer shall maintain the Register in form BBSY-II according to date-wise receipt of applications.

The Director of Textiles, on receipt of applications shall examine them within 30 days. He/she may either sanction payment of assistance or reject the applications with reasons of rejection or seek clarification on any of the points in doubt. Clarifications to be complied within 15 days by the concerned Zonal Office. The sanction order in Form No BBSY-IV shall be maintained by the Directorate along with full particulars of the beneficiary.

The Zonal Officer will allot the total area under his jurisdiction to field staff, who shall report every case of death of beneficiary immediately to the Zonal Officer after the occurrence, latest within 15 days.

(a) After sanction is accorded, funds will be transferred directly by the Directorate to the bank account of the beneficiary. (b) The assistance due to each beneficiary shall be disbursed through NEFT/RTGS funds transfer on monthly basis by 20th of each succeeding month. (c) The list of beneficiaries and the guidelines shall be displayed on Department website and in the Office of the Zonal Officer for information of general public.

The Zonal Officer through his staff shall conduct physical verification of beneficiaries twice a year to ascertain that the beneficiary is alive. The verification shall ordinarily be conducted in the first fortnight of April/October of every year. If either as a result of such verification, or otherwise, the Zonal Officer is satisfied that the beneficiary is no longer alive, he/she shall immediately recommend the case to the Director within fifteen days for cancellation of the assistance and make an entry to that effect in the Zonal Register. For the purpose of cancellation, the Director shall be the final authority.

Any change of the address of the beneficiary which comes to the notice of the Zonal Officer in course of verification or otherwise shall forthwith be entered in the Register of beneficiary and intimated to the Director for necessary action.

The assistance shall cease to be paid from the date of death of the beneficiary.

Further, good conduct is an implied condition for the grant of assistance under the scheme. The Director, on receipt of verified information from the Zonal Office, shall have the right of withholding or withdrawing assistance if the beneficiary is convicted of any criminal offence.

The Divisional Officer, Textiles, or any other officer delegated with power by the Department/Directorate shall be the supervising authority for the districts coming under his/her administrative jurisdiction. He/she shall recommend for cancellation to the Director if he is satisfied that in any case, it was sanctioned on mistaken grounds or, if the conditions for grant of assistance no longer exist or if any irregularity was committed in sanction.

All benefits under the scheme are a matter of absolute discretion of the State Government and may be modified/discontinued without any notice or assigning any reason thereof and shall not be subject to any question in any court of law or otherwise.

The assistance under the scheme shall not be commutable.

These Rules shall regulate the accounting procedure relating to the “Baristha Bunakar Sahayata Yojana’’(BBSY). (a) Both, the Directorate and Zonal Office shall maintain a Sanction Register in respective prescribed format. (b) The expenditure shall be debited to the appropriate units under respective Demand. (c) The scheme is subject to Audit as per Government norms.

The Director may review the implementation of the scheme from time to time or through Divisional Officer. The Divisional Officer shall inspect or cause to be inspected any matter connected with the administration of the scheme. The Zonal Officer will remain in charge of proper execution of the scheme and maintenance of the records.

Any doubt in interpretation of any provision of these Rules or in administering the same, shall be referred to the Director of Textiles for appropriate action.