Textile Minister K T Rama Rao announced that the state government has plans to open 12 new textile clusters to encourage handloom and support weavers apart from bringing a textile policy for taking up several welfare measures for weavers' benefit.

The minister visited a textile park in Pochampally , Yadadri district and enquired about their problems. Weavers of Pochampally and Gadwal earned fame for their products across the country . However, of the 2,000 handlooms only 250 were functional in the state. He assured to provide marketing for the products. An outlet will be opened on the national highway at Malkapur.

To promote weavers, he would urge the politicians and government officials to wear handlooms at least once in a week. Aletter would be sent to them, he added. The minister purchased Pochampally products at the textile park and made cashless transactions using swipe machine, he promised that the government would revive the handloom industry.

Minister Ramarao assured that all weavers would be empowered through enhanced marketing opportunities, better incomes and speedy implementation of the policy. For speedy revival of the handloom industry and for giving boost to the workers, he said that the government would allot special funds in the budget.

As the handloom industry was the biggest after agriculture, providing large-scale employment to people. He also expressed happiness as online sales of handloom clothes had already gained ground. It would be expanded further by talking to all e-commerce websites.

However, the CPM state secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram, has demanded that the government should procure the cloth from weavers and use it as uniforms for employees of various departments. He was on his `Mahajana Padayatra’, met members of weavers’ community in Warni and enquired about the issues they were facing.