1. ■ The government is also working on establishing 10 handloom clusters with the support of the Aditya Birla Group
2. ■ 5% GST reimbursement and provide free electricity up to 200 units for handlooms and 500 units for power looms
3. ■ Establishment of textile parks in Yemmiganur, Rayadurgam, Mylavaram, and Pamidi
4. ■ Andhra Pradesh is home to 35 varieties of high-quality handloom products

metro india news I amaravati

In a major leg-up to the handloom sector, the Andhra Pradesh Government is planning to establish 10 handloom clusters in the state, informed Savitha, Minister for Backward Classes and Textiles at Niche Handloom Marketing Expo here on Thursday.

The minister went to add that Andhra Pradesh is home to 35 varieties of high-quality handloom products, including Uppada Jamdani sarees, Mangalagiri sarees, Venkatagiri sarees, and Dharmavaram silk sarees. She emphasized that the state government, in collaboration with the central government’s Weavers’ Service Center, is actively facilitating marketing opportunities for these handloom products.

“Under Chandrababu Naidu’s governance, the handloom sector has entered a golden era,” she stated. Over the past six months, three new APCO showrooms have been inaugurated, with plans to open several more in the near future. The government is also working on establishing 10 handloom clusters with the support of the Aditya Birla Group.

Minister Savitha has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to providing a dignified livelihood for handloom workers, stating that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s primary goal is to uplift the lives of these artisans.

Speaking at an event following her visit to the Niche Handloom Marketing Expo, the minister highlighted the various initiatives undertaken to promote the state’s rich handloom heritage.

To ensure continuous work for weavers throughout the year, the government has signed an agreement with Tata Group, under which operations have already begun. Minister Savitha also announced plans to implement a 5% GST reimbursement and provide free electricity up to 200 units for handlooms and 500 units for power looms.

In addition, the minister revealed that the government is offering a 15% subsidy on yarn purchases for weavers and has implemented health insurance schemes for handloom workers. She mentioned other welfare programs such as the Thrift Fund and Weavers’ Mudra Scheme, as well as a 50% subsidy for power loom units.

Further infrastructure development plans include the establishment of textile parks in Yemmiganur, Rayadurgam, Mylavaram, and Pamidi. Both handloom and textile parks are being developed in Chirala. The state is also set to roll out a new textiles policy to boost the sector.

The minister expressed confidence that the coalition government has instilled hope among handloom workers, ensuring justice for their community. The event was attended by APCO Managing Director Pavanamurthy, Weavers’ Service Center Deputy Director Sahu, and other officials.