By TwoCircles.net special correspondent
Lucknow: Idrisi Samaj- an outfit comprising of Muslims with tailoring profession in the state has demanded handicrafts status to their ancestral profession of tailoring. The group even threatened to boycott the upcoming assembly elections if their demands for alleviating their status are not met. A national level convention of the community has also been planned on Thursday at Ravindralaya in Lucknow to stress their demands.
Idrisi Samaj office-bearers.
The five million strong tailoring community in the state is up in arms over their pathetic condition due to the government’s apathy. “We stitch school dress of all children but our children are not getting education. We stitch fashionable clothes but do not have means to cover ourselves, the situation should change and there has to be government’s support for upliftment of our community,” said General Secretary of the outfit, Abdul Salam Idrisi.
The community leaders claimed that they had sacrificed for the country and the Param Veer Chakra reciepient Veer Abdul Hameed belonged to Idrisi community. “No sincere efforts have been made for our development by any government. We demand that the tailoring should be granted handicrafts status. This will ensure that we are included in the artisan catgeory and will be eligible for benefits under various schemes,” said Abdul Salam Idrisi.
Regarding the proposed convention of Idrisi Samaj on Thursday, the leaders stated that participation of community elders from 14 states across the state has been confirmed. “We will raise our demands during the convention. In democracy the head count matters and we will show our strength. We will not hesitate in taking to streets in future for our demands,” he added.