Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated that the coalition government is committed to doubling the income of handloom weavers across the state. He announced an annual financial assistance of Rs. 25,000 per handloom family under the Nethanna Bharosa scheme.
Participating in the 11th National Handloom Day celebrations in Mangalagiri, Guntur district on Thursday, he reiterated that the promises made during elections are being implemented with empathy towards the struggles of weavers. Starting this month, 200 units of free electricity will be provided to handlooms and 500 units to powerlooms.
This initiative will benefit 93,000 families operating handlooms and 50,000 families with power looms at a cost of Rs. 190 crores annually. He added that TDP was the first to introduce pensions for weavers from the age of 50, benefitting 92,724 families. With social pensions increased to Rs. 4,000 per month, Rs. 546 crores are being spent annually on weavers’ pensions alone.
Expressing joy upon seeing the artisans, the CM praised the contribution of weavers in bringing global recognition to Indian heritage, saying, “Our handloom weavers possess the rare skill to fold a six-yard saree to fit in a matchbox. If the farmers fed us, the weavers civilised us. We have several handloom hubs with unique qualities, like Mangalagiri, Dharmavaram, Venkatagiri, Uppada, Pedana, Chirala, Ponduru, Madanapalle, Nandavaram, Kodumur, and Emmiganur”, he said.
“Gandhiji admired the Ponduru Khadi; Pedana’s Kalamkari enchanted the world. British traders once took our weavers’ goods to sell in England. Wearing Khadi and spinning thread during the freedom struggle symbolised patriotism” he added.
The CM announced that the government will officially observe the birth anniversary of Pragada Kotaiah, a pioneering handloom activist who led satyagrahas for weavers’ rights. A bronze statue of Kotaiah will be installed at the Handloom Circle near the NRI Hospital on the Vijayawada-Guntur national highway.
Recounting the TDP’s legacy, the CM recalled that in its very first year in power, former CM N.T. Rama Rao introduced subsidised sarees and dhotis to support weavers. He said that the handloom sector is second only to agriculture in terms of livelihood support in the state, with around 1,22,644 families dependent on it.
