On the occasion of National Handloom Day, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy extended his greetings to handloom artisans and their families across the state.
Jagan said handloom weaving is not merely a profession but a symbol of India’s culture, traditions and the artistic skills of Telugu people. He shared a special message on the occasion through the social media platform X.
Welfare Measures During YSRCP Government
While highlighting the welfare measures implemented for the handloom sector during his tenure from 2019 to 2024, Jagan strongly criticised the alleged neglect of weavers by the present Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government.
Jagan recalled that the previous YSRCP government stood by handloom workers at every step to improve their livelihoods and provide financial security to their families.
Under the YSR Nethanna Nestham Scheme, every eligible handloom family was provided ₹24,000 annually, amounting to ₹1.20 lakh over five years, directly into their bank accounts. He said that ₹969.77 crore was disbursed under the scheme.
He further stated that the YSRCP government spent ₹1,396.45 crore towards pensions for handloom workers and ₹468.84 crore towards clearing old APCO dues. Overall, he claimed that ₹3,706.16 crore was provided to handloom workers through various welfare schemes during the YSRCP government.
Free Electricity and Global Market Access
Jagan said the previous government provided free electricity to handlooms and subsidised electricity to power looms.
He also highlighted efforts to expand market opportunities for handloom products by entering into agreements with leading e-commerce companies, helping weavers market their products across India and abroad and gain international recognition.
Jagan Criticises Coalition Government
Jagan accused the Chandrababu-led coalition government of betraying handloom workers after coming to power.
He alleged that although the government promised to provide ₹25,000 per year, the Nethanna Nestham scheme was discontinued.
He also criticised the government for allegedly failing to implement its promise of providing 200 units of free electricity per month to handlooms and 500 units to power looms. Jagan further alleged that the promise of GST reimbursement had also not been fulfilled.
According to Jagan, the government initially promised benefits to 1,03,534 handloom families, but is now announcing benefits for only 71,536 families. He questioned how many families would ultimately receive the promised benefits and took a sarcastic dig at the coalition government’s approach.
YSRCP Will Stand by Weavers: Jagan
Jagan reiterated that the YSRCP would always stand with handloom workers, protect their rights and work for their welfare and the preservation of the handloom sector.
He stressed that protecting the handloom industry is essential not only for the livelihood of thousands of families but also for preserving the cultural heritage and traditional craftsmanship of Telugu society.
