e-platform to market handlooms, handicrafts in AP from October 2

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said that e-marketing platform for handlooms and handicrafts would be launched on October 2 to boost the sales of products made by weavers and artisans. He also released the second instalment of YSR Nethanna Nestham funds, six months in advance.

The state released Rs 600 crore for weavers during its 13-month rule while the previous TDP government has not even spent Rs 200 crore during its entire five-year term. YSR Nethanana Nestham was launched on December 21, coinciding with the birthday of the Chief Minister, but due to Covid -19, the second instalment of the scheme was advanced by six months.

Under the scheme, every weaver who has a loom in house would get Rs 24,000 incentive, and this would benefit 80,000 families accounting for nearly Rs 200 crore per annum.

During the Corona crisis, cloth was purchased from APCO for Rs 109 crore and order to make masks as placed with the SHGs. The state also cleared the dues of the previous government to a tune of Rs 103 crore to APCO taking the total amount spent during the 13 months to about Rs 600 crores.

The Chief Minister said that during his 3,648-km padayatra, he had interacted with weavers at various places who complained that the TDP government was neglecting them, in addition to the growing cost of inputs like dyes, yarn and lack of marketing facilities.

In an attempt to address their problem, YSR Nethanna Nestham was weaved into the manifesto to provide Rs 24,000 per annum to every weaver who has a loom in the house, the Chief Minister said.

“The padayatra helped in giving shape to many welfare schemes like Rythu Bharosa, Amma Vodi, YSR Pension Kanuka, house site pattas, Enlgish medium, Jagananna Vidya Kanuka, Jagananna Vidya Deevena, Jagananna Goru Mudda, Nadu-Nedu for schools and hospitals, YSR Aarogyasri,” he said.

So far, 3.89 crore beneficiaries received Rs 40,000 crore under various schemes, he said adding that the state wants to see that the poor are happy. The main intention is to benefit the poor, he said.

“To do social justice, 50% reservations were provided to the weaker sections in nominated posts and the Cabinet also comprises about 60 per cent of people belonging to the weaker sections,” he said.

On the e-platform, there are three important aspects that should be given importance to market handlooms and handicrafts. First, the artisans need to maintain quality of the products they make, second is the logistics part which involves marketing and the third is payment, which related both to the buyers and sellers. The concerned officials will be working on these areas and the e-platform will be launched on October 2, the Chief Minister said.

Later, during the interactive session, beneficiaries lauded efforts of the Chief Minister and said that Rs 24,000 being given to them was very useful and that their productivity has improved with the amount. They listed out the benefits of various welfare schemes they have been receiving like Amma Vodi, Nadu-Nedu, etc.

Ahead of the interactive session, minister for industries and handlooms M. Goutham Reddy said that the CM’s padayatra was still continuing, with an obvious reference to the interactive session after transferring money to the beneficiaries under various schemes.