As many as 24,000 sets comprising a sari, blouse piece, dhoti and kanduva would be presented to the farmers’ families, which have given their lands for capital construction along with official invitation cards of the Amaravati foundation ceremony from Wednesday.
The cotton saris are sourced from 600 weavers’ societies in Krishna, Guntur and Rajahmundry, while dhotis and kanduvas have been ordered with weavers in Srikakulam district.
All the cotton saris and dhotis would be packed in eco-friendly cotton kit bags, which would be designed with the former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s photos and details of capital foundation venue and muhurtham in the front and future Amaravati photo on the rear side.
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District Water Management Agency has been entrusted with the job of distributing the kitbags. Andhra Pradesh State Handlooms Cooperative Society Limited (APCO) has placed orders with the weavers for the saris and dhotis.
The saris do not have any uniform design and colour pattern but have been sourced from traditional weavers in Mangalagiri, Guntur district, Bandar in Krishna district and Rajahmundry in East Godavari district. In addition to this, two types of dhotis – Punduru MLA and Pattubadi from Srikakulam and three types of Kanduvas – Kuppadam, Kandur MLA and Goruanelu (depending on the border).
“We have not compromised on the quality. The price of each kit in the retail market would cost about Rs.2,400 but we are offering the kits at Rs.1,600 with marginal profit for weavers,” said Murugudu Hanumantha Rao, Chairman of APCO.
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Following the government orders, a festive atmosphere is prevailing in the weavers’ societies of Mangalagiri, Ailavaram, Adepalli in Guntur, Pedana, Raivaram, Challapalli, Polavaram in Krishna and Angera, Mandapeta, Adivarampeta, Pulagutha in Rajahmundry.
“They all expressed thanks to the Chief Minister for presenting saris and dhotis and deciding to source them through APCO,” said Mr. Rao.