Handloom and Textile Minister S. Savita announced that the AP government has taken a key decision to increase wages and processing charges to benefit thousands of weavers. She said that this decision was taken with the aim of strengthening the traditional handloom sector.
Stating that there are 1,036 handloom cooperative societies in the state, out of which 89,000 loom weavers are working in the state, she said that the wages and processing charges of weavers working under the primary handloom cooperative societies that supply products to APCO will be increased.
Bleaching charges have been increased to Rs. 148 per bundle, dyeing charges to Rs. 434 per bundle, bed sheet weaver’s wage to Rs. 100, and towel weaver’s wage to Rs. 40. With this, the income of each weaver will increase by Rs. 3,000 per month, she added. She said that pension is being given to handloom weavers only after 50 years.
Similarly, the Minister said that 500 units of power are being provided free of cost for power looms, 200 units for hand looms and 500 units for power looms. She said that competitions will be organized for new designs in order to bring out the talent of weavers as well as artisans.
Savita said that these competitions are being organized under the auspices of APCO and Lepakshi in collaboration with NID-AP. She said that new designs will be received from artists for 30 days from 17th to 30th of this month and a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh will be given to the best designs selected in various categories.
The Minister said that showrooms are being set up in other states under the PPP model to strengthen Lepakshi and APCO. While exhibitions and buyers’ meetings are already being organized to promote handloom products, she said that APCO has signed an agreement with IIM Visakhapatnam to improve the performance of Lepakshi.