Context: Free electricity for weavers in Andhra Pradesh has come into effect from April 1, 2026
- As promised in the election manifesto, the coalition government has decided to provide up to 200 units of free electricity per month for handlooms and up to 500 units for power looms.
- This initiative aims to reduce the burden of electricity charges on workers and strengthen the handloom sector.
- The scheme is expected to benefit around 1.04 lakh families across the state, including about 93,000 handloom families and 11,488 power loom families. The government will spend approximately ₹150 crore annually to implement this scheme.
- Through this initiative, each handloom family will receive an annual financial relief of about ₹8,640, while power loom families will benefit to the extent of ₹21,600 per year.
- The scheme is also intended to revive the sector from the crisis it faced in recent years. After coming to power, the coalition government has revived key welfare measures.
- It has increased pensions for weavers to ₹4,000 per month, allocated ₹5 crore to handloom cooperative societies under the thrift fund scheme, and is providing a 90% subsidy on the purchase of modern machinery. In addition, a 15% subsidy is being given on raw materials, along with steps to ensure the supply of quality yarn.
- To improve market access, the government is facilitating direct sales to consumers through platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, enabling weavers to expand their reach and improve incomes.