Kolkata, Dec 1 (IANS): In a move to financially empower weavers in the state, West Bengal's textiles department has begun a drive to roll out credit cards which will enable them to avail a loan of upto Rs.25,000.

Officials in the textiles department are already in talks with NABARD and other nationalised and rural banks to facilitate the proposed loan process.

"So far, 17,858 such credit cards have been issued and we are expecting to issue over a lakh weavers credit card by December to help weavers industry," said state textiles director Debasis Ghosh.

The textiles department is optimistic about the success of the credit card scheme and have set up camps in the districts of Nadia, Murshidabad, Burdwan, Hooghly and Malda in West Bengal for enrollment.

Handloom circuits across the state are also underway that will provide specialized training to weavers and guide them to market handloom products. As part of the circuit, the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology was inaugurated at Fulia in Nadia district in August this year.

Also, the textiles department will shortly be introducing an old age pension scheme for the weavers under which financial assistance of Rs.750 every month will be provided. A total of 4,375 weavers will be brought under the proposed pension scheme.