The State government will introduce the “Netanna Bharosa” scheme soon to help weavers. This new policy aims to provide continuous work for weavers and ensure their welfare.
Official sources have revealed that the government is taking steps to empower the weaver community. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has ordered the development of new schemes to benefit handloom and power loom workers in the long term. Efforts are being made to establish the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, renovate the Handloom Park, create new powerloom clusters, set up micro handloom clusters, and introduce the State Technical Textile Policy.
During the previous BRS government’s ten-year rule, the distribution of ‘Bathukamma’ sarees became a trade. The government owes Rs 488.38 crore to TSCO for clothes purchases, with Rs 351.52 crore still pending for ‘Bathukamma’ saree distribution from last year. Handloom cooperatives were neglected in favor of Max cooperatives, leading to real workers missing out on government benefits due to excessive interference from traders and brokers.
The new government has already paid Rs 47 crore in advance for distributing Sarva Siksha Abhiyan uniforms in just three months. Funds have also been released for purchasing yarn and sizing, with advances given to Max, SSIs, and sizing units. Employment opportunities are being provided to all handloom societies across the State, with Rs 53 crore already paid for clothes purchases. Pending dues of Rs 8.81 crore to handloom cooperative societies have been cleared, and various departments have placed orders worth Rs 255.27 crore with Tsco. Currently, there are 140 Max Societies and 135 SSIs in the state.
