By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net
Lucknow: The plight of silk weavers in Varanasi, brass workers in Moradabad and bangle artisans in Ferozabad will be raised by retired IAS officer Anees Ansari. The move is seen as the first step towards joining active politics like many of his brethren.
Ansari was in news when he was suspended from the post of Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) of the state in 2008 after his fashion designer wife Asma Hussain hosted a fashion show at their official residence.
Ansari who retired from the service in 2009 from the post of APC agriculture production commissioner has adorned the mantle after he was elected as chairman of All India Momin Conference (United) in a meeting held on Februrary 28 at Western Court in New Delhi.
The organisation was formed in 1904 as Jamiat-ul-Ansar mainly comprising muslim weaver community (Ansaris). Anees Ansari received support of 21 out of 23 state units of Momin Conferences to form a federation of weavers. “We have included both Hindus and Muslims besides other OBC and Dalit organisatios in the federation,” said Anees Ansari.
Spelling out his priorities, Ansari stated that after the initial interaction with various state units we have short listed two major problems faced by weaver community. “The main problems are availability of threads as raw material and power crisis. With government setup involving UPICA and Handloom Corporation collapsing the weavers are left at the mercy of traders to purchase thread at exorbitant price,” he said.
Using the platform of the organisation for his future plans, Ansari stated that artisans pursuing various handicrafts will also be brought under the umbrella of the organisation. Ansari claimed that he has seen the plight of artisans from close quarters during his stint as Director (Industries), Special Secretary (Industry) besides being the founder MD of UP Minorities Financial Development Corporation (UPMFDC).