Amaravati, August 8: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced on Friday that a new law to protect the rights of Backward Classes (BC) will soon be introduced in the state. He revealed that the draft for the ‘BC Protection Act’ has already been prepared.
Speaking at an event in Kothapeta village, Bapatla district, to mark the 12th National Handloom Day, the Chief Minister emphasized that safeguarding the interests of backward classes is the responsibility of the coalition government, which is why the new law is being introduced.
On this occasion, he launched the ‘Nethanna Sewalo’ (In Service of Weavers) scheme. Under this initiative, eligible weaver families will receive financial assistance of ₹25,000 each. The Chief Minister announced the release of ₹179 crores for 71,536 weaver families.
Chandrababu Naidu stated that despite economic challenges, his government remains committed to welfare schemes and development projects. He urged the public to be vigilant against conspiracies that could hinder the state’s progress, asserting that the government will take strict action against such elements.
He noted that the ‘Nethanna Sewalo’ scheme demonstrates the government’s commitment to fulfilling electoral promises while also taking steps that were not promised during the elections.
“The handloom sector is not just a business; it symbolizes Indian culture and is an art that brings pride to the nation. Andhra Pradesh has a rich heritage of handloom traditions, and the government stands firmly with this community,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister highlighted that handloom products from Chirala, Venkatagiri, Dharmavaram, Uppada, Mangalgiri, Ponduru, Pedana, Srikalahasti, and Narsapuram have received special recognition. Approximately 1.27 lakh people in the state depend on the handloom sector for their livelihoods.
He mentioned that the government is already providing free electricity to weavers. Handloom families receive up to 200 units of free electricity monthly, while powerloom units get up to 500 units, benefiting 62,541 handloom families and 10,032 powerloom units.
Additionally, weavers aged 50 and above receive a monthly pension of ₹4,000 under the ‘NTR Pension Bharosa’ scheme, which supports 85,000 weavers at a monthly cost of ₹35 crores, totaling ₹420 crores annually.
The Chief Minister announced that the government has provided ₹79 crores in cash credit facilities to 109 primary handloom cooperative societies in the state. Special infrastructure projects are underway, including a handloom park in Mangalgiri and a handloom and handicraft museum in Sakhamuru, Amaravati. Furthermore, a ₹4,200 crore investment will establish a sustainable textile recycling unit in Visakhapatnam.
During his address, the Chief Minister also criticized the YSR Congress Party, alleging that the previous government left the state without a capital and damaged its image.
“We are developing Amaravati as a grand capital. The previous government frequently changed its stance on the capital issue, playing games with three capitals and causing significant harm to the state. Just as a family needs a home, a state needs a capital,” he stated.
Chandrababu Naidu accused certain individuals of plotting against Amaravati and spreading confusion regarding the capital issue.
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