Govt. betrayed handloom weavers, alleges YSRCP leader

YSR Congress Party MLC M. Hanumantha Rao has accused the TDP-led coalition government of neglecting the handloom sector and failing to honour its promises to weavers.

Addressing the media at the party central office on Friday, Mr. Hanumantha Rao alleged that the government ignored the welfare of handloom workers over the past two years and significantly reduced the number of beneficiaries under the assistance schemes.

The previous YSRCP government had provided ₹24,000 annually to more than 81,000 handloom workers for five consecutive years after conducting a transparent enumeration, he claimed.

Ahead of the elections, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had promised financial assistance to around 93,000 handloom weavers. However, after assuming office, the government announced benefits for only 54,000 beneficiaries, he said, adding that the government did not explain the basis for reduction in beneficiary numbers.

The YSRCP leader alleged that the government weakened APCO by failing to release adequate funds, conduct elections to the cooperative body, and strengthen its administration. He said delayed payments to handloom cooperative societies pushed many weavers into debt and financial hardship.

Mr. Hanumantha Rao also accused the government of ignoring representations from the handloom workers’ unions and failing to fulfil its promise of securing the removal of GST on handloom products.

He asked the government to undertake a comprehensive enumeration of handloom workers, extend financial assistance with arrears to every eligible weaver, revive APCO by conducting elections, and release the pending support for the past two years.