RAJANNA-SIRCILLA : Unable to bear the burden of mounting debts, a powerloom owner and his wife allegedly hanged themselves to death at their residence in Vempeta, Sircilla town, on Saturday afternoon.
According to sources, the victims — Bhairi Amar, 48, and Sravanthi, 45 — were under financial distress owing to the downturn in the powerloom sector and did not have any work orders from the government or private organisation for months. They are survived by their three children.
A local BRS leader, Diddi Raju, who is also a part of the weavers community, told reporters that Amar was buried in debt due to a lack of work orders and had already sold four of his looms to a scrap dealer to sustain himself and his family. “According to Amar’s relatives, the couple had borrowed`95 lakh, including a housing loan from a bank,” Raju said, urging the government to intervene in the matter and prevent such incidents in the future.
“Otherwise, the entire powerloom sector will be finished in the region,” the BRS leader said.He claimed that the situation has left the powerloom weavers and owners gripped by fear and uncertainty. In the past, it was primarily the weavers who faced such extreme distress, but now, even the owners are reaching a breaking point.
(If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)