Jagan releases Rs.193.64 crore for handloom weaver families

Tirupati: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy released a sum of ₹193.64 crore as financial assistance under the YSR Nethanna Nestham welfare scheme, aimed at helping the weaving community.

The release of the fund would benefit 80,686 weavers owning looms. Each eligible family received ₹24,000, which was directly deposited into their bank accounts.

Addressing a large gathering before initiating the fund release at Venkatagiri constituency on Friday, the Chief Minister noted that the Nethanna Nestham scheme, initiated in 2019, has been provided with funds every year to support the weaving community.

The CM criticised the former TD government for its “failure” to fulfil the promises the party made to the weavers on providing them free houses, constructing sheds for looms, and offering financial aid to the kin of weavers who committed suicide.

“In contrast, we went beyond the extension of financial assistance to them by facilitating online selling of handloom products and granting ex gratia payments of ₹5 lakh each to the families of 71 weavers who died by suicide during the Telugu Desam’s term,” Jagan Mohan Reddy said.

“The previous government spent a mere ₹400 crore in four years, while the YSRC government has allotted a higher sum of ₹2,835.06 crore to weavers so far. Out of this, ₹969.77 crore was disbursed under Nethanna Nestham, ₹1,396.45 crore allocated towards pensions, and ₹468.84 crore paid to APCO. This included ₹103 crore in arrears from the previous government,” the CM explained.

Under the YSR Nethanna Nestham scheme, now in its 5th year, eligible weaver families have received a cumulative amount of ₹1,20,000. Taking into account other welfare schemes, the total benefits extended to the weaving community was ₹3,706.16 crore. This was huge compared to the previous TD government's offer of ₹1,442 crore over a five-year period for weavers' welfare, the CM explained.

He said, “In an effort to enhance global marketing opportunities for handloom products, the AP government forged partnerships with multinational corporations such as Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart and Go coop. These would boost the income levels of weaver families.”

The Chief Minister announced the sanction of ₹553 crore for construction of the Althurupadu reservoir, ₹20 crore for drainage and road development in six mandals and ₹50 lakh each for developmental works in Venkatagiri municipal limits. He also approved the construction of a BC community hall and an SC Gurukul School and declared the Poleramma Jatara as a state festival.

Earlier, Jagan Mohan Reddy interacted with weavers and their families and unveiled a statue of former chief minister N. Janardhan Reddy, in addition to trying his hand on a loom.