Chirala (Andhra Pradesh): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday launched the ‘Nethanna Sevalo’ welfare scheme here in Bapatla district, which will offer Rs 25,000 financial aid to eligible handloom families.
Commemorating the 12th National Handloom Day today in Chirala, the Chief Minister launched the scheme, benefiting 71,536 handloom families at Rs 179 crore.
“The Chief Minister launched the Nethanna Sevalo scheme, which offers Rs 25,000 to weavers. The CM disbursed Rs 179 crore to 71,536 handloom families,” said an official press release.
Apart from the new scheme, the government has been implementing several initiatives for the welfare of the handloom sector.
Handloom families are being provided 200 units of free electricity per month while power loom units receive 500 units of free electricity, the release said.
This initiative benefits 62,541 handloom families and 10,032 power loom units, with an annual expenditure of Rs 150 crore.
Further, the state government is also spending Rs 420 crore annually to provide a monthly pension of Rs 4,000 to 85,000 handloom weavers aged 50 years and above.
Additionally, Rs 79 crore has been extended as cash credit to 109 Primary Handloom Cooperative Societies.
Likewise, the government is also developing a special infrastructure project at Uppada, a handloom park at Mangalagiri and a handloom and handicrafts museum at Shakamuru in Amaravati.
Moreover, a sustainable textile recycling unit with an investment of Rs 4,200 crore is being established in Visakhapatnam, the release added.
