The state government is taking measures to uplift the lives of weaving community and it will continue, the MA&UD Minister KT Rama Rao he asserted, launching the In-situ Upgradation of Plain Powerlooms scheme and ‘Textile Product Mela’ at Sircilla on Friday to help weavers develop economically.

He said that around 15,000 powerlooms will be upgraded into semi-automatic with the In-situ Upgradation scheme launched on Friday and added that the scheme is being sponsored by both Central and State governments.

Browsing through the upgradation equipment of powerlooms, he elicited information about the benefits of the initiative from the asamis (powerloom owners) and also referring to the Rs 1,280 crore funds allocated in the budget for handloom sector.

Since the TRS party came to power, he said that the government has so far waived off loans to the tune of Rs 15.65 crore to bail out the debt-ridden weavers. This apart, the government is exploring every option to assist the handloom sector, he said, referring to the government’s orders and other schemes.

He added that the works of Apparel Park will be completed within a year and that will signal the economic growth weavers. It will also help 1,100 workers to turn into owners.