AP Government Announces ‘Power’ Gift for Handloom Weavers

Amaravati: The public government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has taken a historic decision to provide assurance to the handloom sector in Andhra Pradesh. The free electricity scheme for handloom workers will come into effect from tomorrow. This initiative is aimed at bringing financial stability to lakhs of handloom families. Under this scheme, 200 units per month will be provided free of cost for traditional handlooms and up to 500 units per month for power loom units. The primary objective of this decision is to reduce the burden of electricity charges and further support the handloom industry.

Through this scheme, approximately 93,000 handloom (maggam) families and 11,488 power loom families across the state will directly benefit. The government is expected to spend nearly ₹150 crore annually to implement this program. With this subsidy, each handloom worker’s family will receive an annual financial relief of around ₹8,640, while power loom units will benefit up to approximately ₹21,600 per year.

Considering that electricity has become a significant expense in the weaving sector, the support provided by the government to reduce the power burden for activities such as loom maintenance, weaving and dyeing is highly significant. This scheme is expected to strengthen the handloom sector and serve as a backbone for the livelihood of weavers.