AP Government Prioritizes Welfare and Growth of Handloom, Handicrafts Sector

Quick Summary

• The Andhra Pradesh government has extended welfare and developmental support to the handloom and handicrafts sector.
• Honorary Advisor Suchitra ella highlighted several initiatives, including:

– NTR Pension Bharosa Scheme: ₹445 crore annual assistance, providing ₹4,000 monthly to 92,724 weavers.
– Free Power supply: monthly provision of 200 units for 93,000 handloom households and 500 units for 11,488 powerloom units at a cost of ₹189 crore annually.- Thrift Fund Scheme: ₹5 crore released benefitting over 5,300 weavers; cooperative societies reimbursed with ₹3 crore GST funding.

• Gandhi Bunkar Mela – 2025 was inaugurated in Vijayawada; the event is open till September 7 to assist primary handloom cooperative societies in stock disposal and employment generation.
• The mela features products from over 100 handloom societies, including cotton & silk sarees and Kalamkari varieties at production cost. Participants include renowned brands like Venkatagiri and Dharmavaram.
• Andhra Pradesh received 10 ODOP awards in 2024, including four related to handlooms. Partnerships with Aditya Birla’s AADYAM, Taneira (TATA), and Antharan (TATA Trust) have provided year-round work opportunities for artisans.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The government of Andhra Pradesh appears committed to bolstering its customary handlooms sector through targeted welfare programs such as pensions, free electricity supplies, cooperative fund reimbursements, and initiatives aimed at stock clearance. These measures not only provide steady financial assistance but also aim to preserve the rich heritage associated with globally renowned products from regions like Venkatagiri and Dharmavaram.

The focus on large-scale events like Gandhi Bunkar Mela emphasizes efforts toward sustaining continuous employment while improving market access for weavers-some of whom operate within limited margins. Partnerships with major corporate entities further signal an attempt by the state administration to integrate traditional crafts into broader commercial frameworks while ensuring artisans benefit directly.

While these developments underscore positive strides toward securing livelihoods within this sector amid increasing industrialization pressures across India’s economy,their long-term impact on regional sustainability will require consistent monitoring of implementation efficiency.

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