The Government of Andhra Pradesh has unveiled a major welfare package aimed at improving the livelihood, income security, and social well-being of thousands of handloom weaver families in the state. The newly announced initiatives focus on financial assistance, free electricity, subsidised raw materials, savings support, pensions, insurance, education benefits, and marketing support.
This comprehensive package is expected to provide a minimum yearly benefit of ₹40,000 per weaver family, along with long-term social and economic stability.
Under the flagship Nethanna Bharosa Scheme, every eligible handloom weaver family will receive:
₹25,000 per year directly into their bank account
Assistance provided through DBT to ensure transparency
Additional eligibility norms and registration guidelines will be released separately
This benefit is aimed at supporting household expenses, loom maintenance, raw material purchases, and daily livelihood needs.
To reduce production costs for weavers, the government announced:
200 units of free electricity per month for every household that owns and operates a handloom
Scheme implementation starts August 2025
Annual savings of up to ₹15,000 per family
Families must have an active loom and valid Handloom Weaver ID to avail the subsidy.
Overall, the combined benefits of ₹25,000 cash support + ₹15,000 electricity savings provide a minimum yearly benefit of ₹40,000 to each eligible weaver family.
To encourage financial discipline and long-term savings among weavers, the government introduced the Cheyutha Monthly Savings Scheme.
Worker deposits: ₹400 per month
Government contribution: ₹800 per month
Total monthly savings: ₹1,200 in RD (Recurring Deposit)
Amount can be used for emergencies, business expansion, or retirement security
This scheme helps handloom workers build financial stability and avoid high-interest loans.
To reduce production costs and ensure continuous work:
The government offers subsidised raw materials including cotton, dyes, and yarn
Supplies are distributed through handloom cooperative societies
Lower procurement costs help weavers increase profit margins
Ensures steady production throughout the year
This subsidy is especially beneficial during times of price fluctuations in the raw-material market.
To support the sale of handloom products and ensure fair prices, the government has strengthened APCO (Andhra Pradesh State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society).
APCO will:
Purchase handloom products directly from weavers
Offer assured market access and better price realisation
Promote handloom products through:
State-level exhibitions
National and international expos
Festival-season promotions
Social media and e-commerce platforms
This ensures weavers have consistent income and higher market visibility, even during low-demand seasons.
Children of handloom workers will receive special scholarship support for:
School education
Higher studies
Skill development courses
This is aimed at uplifting the next generation of weaver families.
To provide safety and protection, the government offers:
Accident insurance
Health and illness coverage
Life insurance policies
Emergency support for major injuries or occupational hazards
These schemes reduce financial stress during unforeseen emergencies.
Weavers reaching retirement age will receive:
Monthly pensions for individuals aged 50 years and above
Additional benefits for differently-abled weavers
Online registration to be opened soon
This ensures income stability for senior artisans who have spent decades in the handloom sector.
The combined package offers direct financial support, operational cost reduction, market access, and social security, ensuring both short-term relief and long-term sustainability.
₹25,000 Annual Grant
200 Units of Free Electricity Worth ₹15,000
₹1,200 Monthly Savings via Cheyutha Scheme
Subsidised Cotton, Yarn & Dyes
Guaranteed Product Purchases via APCO
Scholarships, Insurance & Pensions
Together, these initiatives aim to revive the handloom sector, improve incomes, empower rural artisans, and preserve traditional weaving crafts in Andhra Pradesh.
The Andhra Pradesh Government has announced that detailed guidelines and portal links for each scheme will be released phase-wise. Based on official notifications and previous weaver-welfare procedures, the following steps outline the expected eligibility, documents, and application process for all schemes under the 2025 Handloom Weavers Welfare Package.
Applicant must be a resident of Andhra Pradesh
Must belong to a handloom weaver family
Must possess a valid Handloom Weaver ID Card / Aadhaar-linked weaver identification
Only one beneficiary per family is allowed
Applicant must be actively engaged in handloom weaving (manual loom or power loom)
Household must own or operate a working handloom
Must be registered under Handloom & Textiles Department
Income limit (expected): usually below ₹1.5-2 lakh per year, as per past scheme norms
Beneficiary must not already be receiving similar benefits from other states/central schemes
Must have a handloom installed at home
Electricity meter must be in the weaver's name / family name
Must link electricity service number with weaver ID
Benefit applies only to handloom households, not general consumers
Applicant must be a handloom weaver or worker
Must open a Recurring Deposit (RD) account in:
Post Office
Co-operative Society
Nationalised Bank
Must deposit ₹400 every month without fail
Government will contribute ₹800 only if monthly deposit is maintained
Must have an active membership in a Handloom Cooperative Society
Must provide loom information and production details
Subsidies apply only to:
Cotton
Yarn
Dyes
Other approved materials
Beneficiary must be 50 years or above
Must be a registered and active weaver
Should not be receiving any other government pension (except disability pension)
Weavers must keep the following documents ready:
Aadhaar Card (mandatory)
Ration Card / Household Card
Caste certificate (if applicable for some schemes)
Mobile number linked with Aadhaar
Bank passbook (for DBT transfers)
Handloom Weaver ID Card (must be active)
Proof of handloom ownership (photos/registration)
Electricity service number (for free electricity scheme)
Cooperative society membership proof (if applicable)
Recent photograph
RD account proof
Monthly deposit receipts
The AP government typically launches applications through online portals and village secretariats. The expected process is as follows:
Go to the nearest Sachivalayam
Submit your Weaver ID and Aadhaar
Secretariat staff will verify:
Loom status
Electricity connection
Family details
Your application will be registered on the Handloom Welfare Portal.
The government will activate a dedicated portal (likely):
ahwd.ap.gov.in (Handlooms Department) navasakam.ap.gov.in (for DBT-based schemes)
You will be able to:
Register using Aadhaar
Upload required documents
Select schemes you qualify for
Track application status
Officials will verify:
Whether your loom is active
Whether electricity connection is valid
Whether you are a genuine weaver
Cooperative society membership
Field inspections may be conducted for physical verification.
After verification:
Your name will be added to the final beneficiary list
Lists will be displayed at:
Village secretariats
Handloom offices
Online portals
Once approved:
₹25,000 (Nethanna Bharosa) will be credited directly into your bank account
Electricity subsidy will be automatically applied to your current bill
Cheyutha Scheme contributions will be deposited monthly into your RD account
Subsidised raw materials can be collected at cooperative societies
Pensions will be credited monthly
The scheme Nethanna Bharosa is formally launched - each eligible weaver-family in AP will get ₹ 25,000 per year as benefit.
The "Free Electricity / Free Power" scheme is also officially launched: from August 7, 2025, eligible weavers get 200 free units/month (handloom) and 500 units/month (power-loom) as part of their welfare package.
The state government has also committed to GST reimbursement on handloom products, revival of raw-material subsidies (yarn, dye etc.), marketing support via APCO, and a thrift fund for weavers.
As a sign of implementation momentum: the cooperative society has cleared some long-pending dues - e.g. total of around ₹ 2 crore was disbursed recently to handloom weavers' societies