The Center has sanctioned 10 new handloom clusters for Andhra Pradesh to encourage and support handloom weavers. The Center has brought a cluster program to increase income through new designs. To this extent, Kakinada, East Godavari, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, Nellore, Sri Sathya Sai, and Anantapur in AP have one each.
In Tirupati district, the state government has sent proposals to the Center for the establishment of two clusters. The Center has approved this extent. Moreover, the first step has been taken regarding the establishment of clusters in Palnadu, Guntur, Bapatla, and Tirupati.
The first installment of Rs. 5 crore has been released for these clusters. Orders have been issued for the sanction of another Rs. 2 crore for the remaining ones. These funds will be deposited in the state within 10 days. Work related to the establishment of clusters will start by Sankranti.
It is said that 2,000 handloom weavers will benefit from the establishment of these clusters. There are currently 3.50 lakh people in the handloom and allied sectors across the state. If there are a total of 32 clusters across the state, a cluster will be formed with 100 to 500 handloom weavers.
Depending on the number of workers in each cluster, it is possible to sanction Rs. 2 crore for each cluster from the center. With these funds released by the center, modern machines worth Rs. 15-70 thousand will be provided to the workers within the cluster with a 90% subsidy. It is enough for the beneficiaries to pay 10 percent.
Moreover, a personal workshop will also be constructed with a 100% subsidy. On the other hand, a designer will also be available in the cluster to train the handloom weavers on new designs. The Center will also appoint a Cluster Development Executive to make the necessary equipment available.
Dharmavaram is a key area in the handloom sector in the state. Handloom weavers there make Kanchipattu sarees. These are marketed worldwide. To this end, the government is planning to set up a mega cluster with Rs. 34 crore to encourage Dharmavaram handloom weavers. A DPR is also being prepared to this end.
Similarly, a survey is being conducted in Pithapuram and Angara with Rs. 14 crore for the establishment of mega clusters. The Center will sanction 90 percent of the funds for setting these up. The state government will bear the remaining 10 percent. The funds will be released after the DPRs are sent to the Center. Overall, it can be said that these clusters will be a great success for the respective districts.
