Integrated Handloom Cluster Development Scheme

Integrated Handloom Cluster Development Scheme

APCO has been identified by the Government of India (GoI) as the Implementing Agency for the holistic development of the Chirala and Madhavaram clusters in Andhra Pradesh. Two more clusters viz. Puttapaka (Nalgonda district) and Kothapally (Karimnagar district) are in the pipeline.

This is part of a scheme by GoI called the Integrated Handloom Cluster Development scheme, under which the office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms, New Delhi has proposed the development of 20 handloom clusters across the country.

The main objectives of the scheme are to empower handloom weavers and build their capacity to meet the challenges of the market; to facilitate collectivisation of handloom weavers and service providers in the fields of procurement, production, marketing and other support activities; and to provide common infrastructure and facilities in a viable format within the cluster.