Metro India News | AMARAVATI

The Andhra Pradesh government has announced a series of welfare measures aimed at supporting weavers and strengthening the traditional textile sector, as Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu chaired a review meeting, where he outlined the government's commitment to reviving the sector.

As part of the new policy decisions, the state will bear the entire GST on handloom products, ensuring that weavers are not burdened by tax liabilities and that prices remain affordable for consumers. A thrift fund of Rs.5 crore will be set up for weavers’ welfare, and free electricity will be provided up to 200 units for traditional handlooms and 500 units for power looms. All the new initiatives will be implemented starting August 7, marking National Handloom Day.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister recalled insights gained during a recent visit to Jammalamadugu, where he interacted with handloom families. He emphasized the importance of supporting the sector, calling it second only to agriculture in its socio-economic impact.

Officials highlighted that these steps would lower production costs, improve market competitiveness, and boost sales of handloom products, ultimately benefiting weavers directly. The meeting also noted that Andhra Pradesh had recently secured 10 national awards for its handloom products, including a first-ever recognition under the “One District One Product” category.