Hyderabad: The Telangana government’s flagship saree distribution programme for 65 lakh women in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) is nearing its first major milestone, with 25 lakh sarees already nearing completion and another 40 lakh in the works.
After scrapping the earlier Bathukamma saree scheme, the Congress government allocated ₹318 crore to supply two uniform sarees annually to each SHG woman. Production began in April. Within three months, weavers have completed 1.25 crore metres of fabric.
The Department of Handlooms and Textiles, aiming to finish 4.5 crore metres within six months, engaged 187 societies and units across Siricilla, Karimnagar, Jagtial, Peddapalli, Mancherial, Warangal, and Hanamkonda. Sarees are being produced under 131 cooperative societies and 56 small-scale industrial units.
Women under 60 will receive 6-metre polyester sarees; those over 60 will get 9.5-metre polycotton sarees. Final designs were approved by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy following consultations led by Commissioner Shailaja Ramaiyer.
Around 10,000 workers are employed under the project, each earning up to ₹25,000 per month with regular payments. The government is targeting Dasara for the distribution of one saree per beneficiary, with strict quality control measures and daily supervision in place.