AP weavers get Rs 25,000 aid as Naidu launches ‘Nethanna Sevalo’ scheme

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched the ‘Nethanna Sevalo’ scheme in Bapatla district, providing Rs 179 crore financial assistance to 71,536 handloom families. He also announced measures to support weavers, textile development and Amaravati infrastructure projects

Chirala (Andhra Pradesh): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday launched the ‘Nethanna Sevalo’ welfare scheme here in Bapatla district, which will offer Rs 25,000 financial aid to eligible handloom families.

Commemorating the 12th National Handloom Day here, the chief minister launched the scheme, benefiting 71,536 handloom families at Rs 179 crore.

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“The chief minister launched the Nethanna Sevalo scheme, which offers Rs 25,000 to weavers. The CM disbursed Rs 179 crore to 71,536 handloom families,” an official release said.

Later, addressing a public meeting, Naidu observed that weaving is not just a profession but an example of Indian culture.

According to the CM, Handlooms Day is commemorated on August 7 to reminisce the spirit of Swadeshi movement during India’s freedom struggle.

He said ‘Nethanna Sevalo’ was launched today to make Handlooms Day memorable, adding that the scheme is a testament to implementing welfare schemes beyond those promised during the polls.

Underscoring that the southern state is home to several weaving traditions such as Chirala, Venkatagiri, Dharmavaram, Uppada, Mangalagiri, Ponduru, Pedana, Srikalahasti and Narasapuram, Naidu vowed to support them.

The CM highlighted that the government is offering 200 units of free power to handloom families and 500 units to power looms, benefiting 62,541 weavers families and 10,032 power loom units respectively.

Naidu said the government is creating special infrastructure in Uppada and setting up a handlooms park in Mangalagiri.

Likewise, he said a museum is coming up in Amaravati on handicrafts and weaving and added that a Rs 4,200 crore textile recycling unit will be established in the port city of Visakhapatnam.

Naidu noted that the NDA government will take the responsibility of protecting BCs, promising to enact a law soon.

Emphasising that the state government is not compromising on welfare and development, he called on people to be wary of the alleged conspiracies being hatched to hinder the development happening in the state.

Further, the CM noted that Rs 12 lakh crore worth investments have already been grounded and that the government was working towards creating jobs for the youth, including building roads, ports and airports to develop the state.

Though the state was allegedly beset by financial problems due to the previous YSRCP government, Naidu said the coalition government spent Rs 1.5 lakh crore on welfare and Rs 1.34 lakh crore on development in the past two years.

Accusing the previous government of depriving a capital city for the state, the CM said as soon as the coalition government came to power it restarted Amaravati works.

The CM said “seed access” road in Amaravati will be inaugurated on August 13.

Naidu lashed out at ideas such as MAVIGUN as an alternative capital region to Amaravati.

YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy has proposed MAVIGUN as an “economical and practical” alternative for the state capital.

He suggested declaring Machilipatnam, Vijayawada, and Guntur (MAVIGUN) as the capital corridor instead of greenfield Amaravati, which he said would require Rs 2 lakh crore to build.

He claimed that MAVIGUN would cost only a fraction of Amaravati’s expenses.

On several cases filed to block teacher recruitment, the CM said the government went ahead resolutely with the District Selection Committee (DSC) examination to appoint 16,000 teachers.

Naidu asserted that he would not tolerate activities blocking development and vowed to deal with them in a stern manner.