The Andhra Pradesh coalition government has brought festive cheer to handloom weavers by depositing pending dues into their accounts ahead of Sankranti.

Funds credited ahead of the festival

In welcome news for the handloom community, the Andhra Pradesh government has begun depositing funds into the bank accounts of weavers before the Sankranti festival. An amount of ₹5 crore in pending dues related to the Andhra Pradesh State Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society (APCO) is being released.

Savita, the Minister for BC Welfare, Handlooms, and Textiles, announced that the payments were made on Monday, January 12, as per her instruction to the APCO management. She further emphasized that the state government is dedicated to supporting the weavers and their financial needs.

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APCO dues cleared in phases

The minister remembered that the payment of ₹2.42 crore due to APCO was already made in December 2025. With this latest payment, the government has moved forward in making a long time overdue payment to the handloom cooperatives.

APCO, whose main office is located in Vijayawada and was founded in 1976, has the primary aim of promoting handloom weavers of Andhra Pradesh. The agency buys cloth from handloom groups and sells it both through physical stores and internet portals.

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Relief for weavers facing payment delays

Delayed payments in the past had caused significant hardship for weavers. In response, APCO has recently accelerated the process of clearing dues, depositing payments into the accounts of handloom societies in September and December, and now again in January.

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Steps to boost handloom sales

To further support weavers, the AP government has introduced door delivery services through APCO and is organising handloom bazaars at both state and national levels to improve market access. APCO now sells silk sarees and ready-made garments through offline stores and online channels. The government has also decided to bear the GST on handloom products to reduce the burden on weavers.

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Welfare schemes for handloom workers

The coalition government is implementing several welfare schemes for handloom workers. These include free electricity—up to 200 units per month for handloom weavers and up to 500 units for power loom operators—along with financial security through a thrift fund. These initiatives aim to provide long-term stability and support to the handloom sector in Andhra Pradesh.