AP CM Naidu Launches 'Nethanna Sevalo' Scheme in Chirala
Synopsis
On the 12th National Handloom Day, AP CM Chandrababu Naidu launched the 'Nethanna Sevalo' welfare scheme in Chirala's Kothapeta village and heard from weaver families how a GI tag on Kuppada silk sarees has lifted sales by 30 per cent under the One District One Product programme.
Key Takeaways
AP CM Chandrababu Naidu launched the 'Nethanna Sevalo' handloom weaver welfare scheme at Kothapeta, Chirala on 7 August 2026 .
Weaver families reported a 30 per cent rise in sales of Kuppada silk sarees following the GI tag granted under the One District One Product programme.
Kuppada silk has also received a central government award for outstanding craftsmanship .
The CM visited a working loom unit owned by Bandaru Balasubrahmanyam in Kothapeta and held direct discussions with weavers on market conditions and traditional skills.
The launch coincides with National Handloom Day , observed annually on 7 August since 2015 to honour the weaving community.
Andhra Pradesh is pursuing GI registration across multiple handloom clusters as part of a broader artisan branding and welfare strategy.
On the occasion of the 12th National Handloom Day, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu walked into a working loom unit in Kothapeta village, Chirala constituency, sat with weavers, and heard directly from them what a GI tag has done for their livelihoods — before launching a new welfare scheme for the community on 7 August 2026.
Kuppada silk's GI tag and the sales surge weavers reported
Weaver families from the Chirala cluster told the Chief Minister that the Geographical Indication (GI) tag granted to Kuppada silk sarees under the One District One Product programme has brought sharply higher recognition to their craft — and, according to the families themselves, a 30 per cent rise in sales. Kuppada silk has also earned a central government award for outstanding craftsmanship, adding institutional weight to a product that has long been woven in the handlooms of this coastal Andhra belt.
Bandaru Balasubrahmanyam, owner of the handloom unit in Kothapeta that the Chief Minister visited, welcomed Naidu at the loom. The conversation that followed covered the distinctiveness of Kuppada weaves, the traditional skill sets passed down across weaver households, and the market pressures those households continue to face.
'Nethanna Sevalo' scheme inaugurated at Kothapeta
The centrepiece of the day was the formal launch of the 'Nethanna Sevalo' scheme — a state welfare programme targeting handloom weavers — at Kothapeta, Chirala constituency. The scheme's inauguration on National Handloom Day, first observed nationally in 2015, was a deliberate signal: welfare for weavers and market promotion of their products are being pursued together, not as separate tracks.
Andhra Pradesh has been systematically pursuing GI registration for distinctive handloom products across its clusters, combining product branding with targeted support for artisan households. The approach is a direct answer to the structural threat mechanised textile production poses to traditional weaving communities.
What the Chirala visit signals for AP's handloom policy
A Chief Minister spending National Handloom Day at an actual loom — not a ceremonial stage — is a deliberate act of political and policy messaging. The focus now shifts to the rollout details of Nethanna Sevalo and whether additional GI applications from other Andhra handloom clusters follow the Kuppada model. For the weaver families of Chirala, the test is simpler: whether the scheme translates the recognition of a GI tag into stable, dignified income.
Point of View
One District One Product — with direct welfare delivery to shore up handloom communities against mechanised competition. For Naidu, the optics of sitting at a loom on National Handloom Day are inseparable from the politics: Andhra Pradesh's coastal weaving belts are electorally significant, and visible CM-level attention signals that artisan welfare is not being left to the bureaucracy alone. The real measure will be whether 'Nethanna Sevalo' delivers sustained income support, or joins the long list of schemes that generated a launch-day headline and little else. If the GI-tag model in Chirala is replicated across other AP clusters, the state could establish a replicable template for artisan-sector revival that other handloom-heavy states would watch closely.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Nethanna Sevalo' scheme in Andhra Pradesh?
'Nethanna Sevalo' is a state welfare scheme for handloom weavers launched by AP CM Chandrababu Naidu at Kothapeta in Chirala constituency on National Handloom Day, 7 August 2026. Full rollout details are yet to be announced.
What is Kuppada silk and why did it get a GI tag?
Kuppada silk sarees are a traditional handloom product from the Chirala region of Andhra Pradesh. They received a Geographical Indication tag under the One District One Product programme to protect their unique identity and improve market recognition.
How much have Kuppada silk saree sales increased after the GI tag?
Weaver families in Chirala told CM Chandrababu Naidu that sales of Kuppada silk sarees have risen by 30 per cent since receiving the GI tag, though this figure comes from the weavers themselves.
What is National Handloom Day and when is it observed?
National Handloom Day is observed every year on 7 August to honour the handloom weaving community and promote the sector. It has been observed annually since 2015.
What is the One District One Product scheme in Andhra Pradesh?
One District One Product is a programme that identifies a distinctive product from each district, supports its GI registration, and promotes it to improve recognition and sales for local artisans and weaver families.
