N Chandrababu Naidu will launch the Netanna Sevalo welfare scheme in Chirala Assembly constituency on Friday on National Handloom Day, a major initiative to support Andhra Pradesh’s traditional weaving community.
The programme is meant to give immediate cash to family members of handloom and strengthen one of the oldest industries of the state.
Under the scheme, each eligible handloom weaver family will receive ₹25,000 per year to cover production expenses and purchase raw materials as well as sustain production in order to maintain their weaving business.
The state government has allocated ₹179 crore for the initiative, which is expected to benefit more than 71,536 handloom families in Andhra Pradesh.
The launch is a reflection of the government’s focus on preserving the handloom industry to ensure the financial security of thousands of artisans. Officials hope the assistance will lessen the burden of rising input costs and encourage weavers to continue their traditional craft.
The Netanna Sevalo scheme is one of the welfare measures introduced by the Andhra Pradesh government for the textile sector. Handloom families are getting 200 units of free electricity every month, while powerloom units are given 500 units of free power to help weavers reduce the cost of operation.
In addition to power subsidies, the government has also expanded social security benefits for senior artisans. Over 85,000 handloom workers aged 50 years and above receive a monthly pension of ₹4,000, and the state spends around ₹420 crore on the programme every year.
The handloom sector’s cooperative societies have also received financial backing, with ₹79 crore distributed as cash credit assistance to 109 Primary Handloom Cooperative Societies to strengthen production and marketing.
The government is also investing in long-term infrastructure to support the textile industry. Projects currently in progress include Handloom Park at Mangalagiri, dedicated handloom infrastructure in Uppada, and a Handloom and Handicrafts Museum at Shakamuru in Amaravati.
A ₹4,200-crore sustainable textile recycling facility is also being developed in Visakhapatnam with the aim to promote green textile production and also create jobs.
Chief Minister Naidu gave handloom workers a message of greetings and advised them to support the locally woven products on National Handloom Day.
“Handloom is a heritage of Andhra Pradesh and is a part of the economy which is very important for thousands of families in the state,” he said.
With the launch of Netanna Sevalo, the Andhra Pradesh government aims to improve the economic well-being of weavers while also ensuring the survival and growth of the traditional handloom sector.
In this way, we shall achieve the goal of direct financial assistance with welfare programs, infrastructure development, and institutional support for the weaving industry to develop and grow economically for the future.
