Mon Aug 25 17:53:24 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

**Andhra Pradesh Bolsters Handloom Sector with Welfare Initiatives**

**Vijayawada, India – August 25, 2025** – The Andhra Pradesh government is reaffirming its commitment to the handloom and handicrafts sector with a range of welfare and development initiatives. Suchitra Ella, Honorary Advisor for Handlooms and Handcrafts Development, highlighted the government’s efforts at the inaugural function of the Gandhi Bunkar Mela 2025, held in Vijayawada.

Ella emphasized the NTR Pension Bharosa scheme, providing ₹4,000 monthly assistance to over 92,000 weavers, amounting to an annual expenditure of ₹445 crore. The government is also providing free power to handloom and powerloom units, allocating 200 units monthly to 93,000 handloom households and 500 units to 11,488 powerloom units, costing ₹189 crore annually. Further support includes thrift fund schemes benefitting 5,300 weavers and GST reimbursement for cooperative societies.

The Gandhi Bunkar Mela, open to the public until September 7th, aims to help primary handloom weaver cooperative societies sell accumulated stock and ensure continuous employment for weavers.

Commissioner of Handlooms and Textiles, G. Rekha Rani, stated that the Mela is hosting 100 handloom societies and institutions, including 45 from Andhra Pradesh. Exhibited are cotton and silk sarees, Jamdhani saris, Kalamkari varieties, dress materials, and carpets, offered at production cost. She emphasized Andhra Pradesh’s rich heritage of handloom products, including Venkatagiri, Dharmavaram, Uppada, and Mangalagiri sarees, produced by 986 cooperative societies.

Rekha Rani also noted that Andhra Pradesh secured 10 One District One Product (ODOP) awards in 2024, four of which were for handlooms. Strategic partnerships with companies like AADYAM (Aditya Birla), Taneira (TATA), and Antharan (TATA Trust) are also providing artisans with year-round work opportunities.

Read More