Telangana government prioritises weavers’ welfare and textile industry growth
Hyderabad: The Telangana government has prioritised weavers welfare Telangana by strengthening support for Sircilla’s handloom sector, expanding textile infrastructure and implementing welfare schemes for weavers, Marketing, Agriculture, Handlooms and Textiles and Cooperation Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao said on Thursday.
The Minister inaugurated the development and beautification of the Ragudu Junction in Sircilla Municipal limits. The project, estimated at ₹3.22 crore, includes model bus shelters and junction improvement works.
Ministers Thummala Nageswara Rao, Ponnam Prabhakar and Adluri Laxman Kumar, Government Whip and Vemulawada MLA Adi Srinivas, District Collector Garima Agrawal and local legislators participated in the inauguration.
Later, at the Integrated District Offices Complex (IDOC), the Ministers distributed Recurring Deposit (RD) passbooks to eligible beneficiaries under the Thrift Fund Scheme for textile workers.
Weavers welfare Telangana receives government support
Addressing the gathering, Thummala Nageswara Rao described Sircilla as the symbol of Telangana’s handloom industry. He said the government had extended more than ₹1,360 crore to the handloom sector during the past two years.
The Minister said the government aimed to provide year-round employment, insurance cover and welfare benefits to weavers. He added that the State continued purchasing quality handloom sarees even at higher prices to ensure market support.
He also said the proposed yarn depot would strengthen handloom cooperative societies. The government would examine and resolve issues affecting weavers through elected representatives, he added.
Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar said the government was fulfilling promises made to the people under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s leadership. He assured continued support for the development of Sircilla and the wider Karimnagar region.
Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said Sircilla weavers were producing high-quality Indira Mahila Shakti sarees. He urged efforts to develop an affordable Sircilla model saree and secure a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Weavers welfare Telangana drives textile expansion
Government Whip and Vemulawada MLA Adi Srinivas said the government had cleared pending dues in the textile sector after assuming office. He said the State placed orders for 6.80 crore metres of sarees during 2024-25, generating about eight months of employment for thousands of weavers.
He said the government had already placed orders for 3 crore metres of sarees during the current financial year. Nearly 1 crore metres had already been produced, while the government was prepared to place additional orders exceeding 3 crore metres.
Adi Srinivas said the government had released ₹62 crore in pending bills and introduced a ₹2 per unit electricity subsidy for powerlooms up to 25 HP.
He also said the State had established a ₹50-crore Yarn Bank in Vemulawada and was working to set up a Common Facility Centre for the textile sector.
The MLA announced that the government was constructing a ₹3-crore textile-themed structure near the Sircilla Collectorate Circle to showcase the various stages of fabric production. He added that the Ragudu Bypass Junction had also been designed to reflect the heritage of the weaving profession.
District Collector Garima Agrawal said the government had completed the Gudi Cheruvu Bund Park to benefit residents, pilgrims and tourists visiting Vemulawada. She said the Ragudu Junction project also included road widening, road safety improvements and sculptures depicting different stages of textile production.
The Collector added that the high-quality Indira Mahila Shakti sarees produced in Sircilla last year had gained popularity among women for festivals and special occasions. She said the government had placed fresh orders for the sarees this year.