As part of Andhra Pradesh Government’s plans to improve the livelihood of weavers, two mega handloom clusters would be set up with an investment of Rs.100 crore in each of them at Mangalagiri and Chirala in the State, according to Minister for Backward Classes Welfare, Handlooms and Excise, Kollu Ravindra.
He told The Hindu that the mega clusters would have all facilities to support weavers, including machinery. Government of India would provide Rs.70 crore for each mega cluster while the remaining would be borne by the State Government. He said the buildings for the mega cluster at Mangalagiri would be completed soon. As many as 31 mini-clusters were functioning across the State and Rs.60 lakh would be provided to each of them this year.
In fact, half of the amount was already released, he added.
In the wake of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s directive to each department to come out with 100 days plan, Mr. Ravindra said among the immediate priorities to improve the lot of weavers was to launch training programmes for members of handloom societies in each district.
They would be trained in developing new designs. “We want to ensure that government schemes reach every weaver”, he added.
He said exhibitions would be conducted across the State to promote weavers products and a mega showroom of APCO would be opened at Vijayawada next month.
The other important activities under the 100-day plan include completion of 10 under-construction hostel buildings for BC students across the State, providing uniforms to all students and ensuring enrolment of maximum number of students from most backward sub-castes.
He said three new hostels would be opened in the next few months – two for boys at Bandarkota in Machilipatnam and in Prakasam district and another one for girls in Visakhapatnam district.
Following the government’s decision to close down unauthorised liquor shops (belt shops), he said committees from village to State-level have been formed to create awareness.
He said nearly 800 cases were booked against liquor shops in the State for various violations during the last month.
Mr.Ravindra said the Excise revenue accrued to the State exchequer last year was to the tune of Rs.10,000 crore for the 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh and Rs.18,000 crore for the combined State.
He said the same amount was expected in Andhra Pradesh this year too.
