Indian residents queue to deposit money in a Cash Deposit Kiosk in Siliguri. (DIPTENDU DUTTA/AFP/Getty Images)At a meeting chaired by Union textiles minister Smriti Irani with bank officials, a decision was taken for banks to arrange micro ATMs at handloom-handicrafts clusters so that weavers and artisans are not troubled and can withdraw cash to buy raw materials through the Aadhaar-enabled payment system.
A textile ministry official said,
The measure (dispensing cash) was taken to ensure weavers-artisans do not face difficulty in acquiring raw materials to continue handloom/handicrafts activity.
The micro ATMs will be mobilised by local bank officers in consultation with officials of weavers service and marketing service extension centres, which will sensitise weavers and artisans about their location through text messages on the phone.
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