The Andhra Pradesh government has launched a free electricity scheme for handloom and power loom weavers, aiming to provide financial relief and strengthen the struggling weaving sector.

The initiative came into effect from today. Under the scheme, eligible handloom weavers will receive up to 200 units of electricity per month free of cost, while power loom operators will be provided 500 units per month at no charge.

The policy is expected to benefit around 93,000 handloom families and 11,488 power loom families across the state.

Officials estimate that handloom households will save approximately 8,640 rupees annually, while power loom units could save up to 21,600 rupees per year. The government has earmarked about 150 crore rupees annually to implement the scheme.