Bathukamma sarees in 30 new designs, 20 colours

Hyderabad: Distribution of Bathukamma sarees will commence from October 2 across the State. Bulk of the sarees have already been dispatched to the districts to begin the exercise. Bathukamma, the floral festival is expected to commence on October 6. This year, the Handlooms department placed orders for sarees in 30 designs and in 20 different […]

Hyderabad: Distribution of Bathukamma sarees will commence from October 2 across the State. Bulk of the sarees have already been dispatched to the districts to begin the exercise.

Bathukamma, the floral festival is expected to commence on October 6. This year, the Handlooms department placed orders for sarees in 30 designs and in 20 different colours.

The State government allocated Rs.333.14 crore for Bathukamma saree scheme this year. Apart from the regular 6.3 metres sarees, the department has also ordered for over eight lakh sarees that measure nine metres and are to be distributed among the elderly women in the northern districts of the State.

In view of the Covid pandemic, District Collectors have been given the option to distribute the sarees at the door-steps of the eligible beneficiaries or at the Village Distribution Points (VDP), which could be school buildings, community halls or panchayats offices, TSCO Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Shailaja Ramaiyer said.

All measures will be taken to ensure all beneficiaries get the sarees. In case any beneficiary fails to collect at the VDPs during the festivities, officials will distribute the sarees at Mandal Distribution Points and there is no deadline, she said.

Since 2017, the State government has been distributing Bathukamma sarees every year to women aged above 18 years. Over 95 lakh sarees were distributed in 2017, 96.7 lakh in 2018, 96.5 lakh in 2019 and 96.24 lakh in 2020.

The Bathukamma sarees orders have come as a blessing for weavers in the State. In a bid to provide continuous employment and ensure better income, orders for Bathukamma sarees are being given to Sircilla, Karimnagar and Warangal weavers for the past few years.

Apart from weavers, ancillary workers including labourers, hamalis, autorickshaw drivers and even traders benefit from the Bathukamma saree scheme. The scheme has helped in providing sufficient work to weavers and their monthly income has doubled from about Rs.8000 to Rs.16, 000 and in some cases, even Rs.20,000, department officials said.

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Year wise details of Bathukamma sarees distribution

• 2017 95,48,439 sarees
• 2018 96,70,474 sarees
• 2019 96,57,813 sarees
• 2020 96,24,384 sarees

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