Chief minister of India’s Karnataka state Basavaraj Bommai yesterday asked officials to set up mini-textile parks in 25 administrative districts (taluks) with more weaver population. Launching the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme for handloom and powerloom weavers under the Nekar Sanman scheme in Bengaluru, he said the parks would help weavers, starting from processing cotton to manufacturing garments.

Weavers must focus on quality and come forward for exports, and the market must be expanded through digital fora with the backing of the state department of handlooms and textile, Bommai was quoted as saying by media reports from the state.

The chief minister interacted with weavers from Bengaluru, Tumkur, Belagavi and Bagalkot.