Hyderabad: The Telangana government will launch the distribution of Indiramma sarees across the state on November 19, marking the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The programme falls under the Indira Mahila Shakti project. The government aims to distribute one crore sarees to one crore women, and officials have accelerated preparations for the rollout.
This year, the government selected green sarees with red borders. Women attending the Saras Mela 2026 in Hyderabad praised the new design, describing it as more colourful than previous versions. Visitors from other states also enquired about the sarees at stalls at the fair.
The government plans to distribute sarees to every woman aged above 18 who holds a ration card. Previously, the scheme mainly covered members of women’s self-help groups and other eligible beneficiaries. This time, the government intends to extend the benefit to a wider group of women across Telangana.
Indiramma sarees reach districts as distribution preparations advance
The government has allocated nearly Rs. 300 crore for the programme. It has also emphasised fabric quality compared with previous editions. The sarees are being produced using quality material, providing work for handloom and powerloom workers in Sircilla and other parts of the state.
Meanwhile, around 50 lakh sarees have already reached district headquarters from Sircilla and other production centres. This marks a key stage in preparations for the statewide distribution.
District collectors, along with officials from the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) and the Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA), are identifying distribution centres. They are planning facilities at both village and urban levels to ensure the sarees reach beneficiaries.
The government has set November 19 as the start date for the distribution programme, while officials continue preparations across the state.