The Centre has spent over ₹69,860 crore on procuring cotton from Telangana farmers under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism, Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy said on the occasion of National Handloom Day on Friday.The Minister said the upcoming PM MITRA Mega Textile Park in Warangal would integrate traditional textile practices with state-of-the-art machinery, creating new opportunities for the handloom and textile sectors in the State.Highlighting the Centre’s efforts to strengthen the textile value chain, Mr. Kishan Reddy said the Modi Government was implementing the ‘Make in India’ initiative alongside the ‘5F’ vision: Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Fabric, Fabric to Fashion and Fashion to Foreign Markets. He said incentives worth about ₹9 lakh crore are being extended up to 2030 to promote growth in the sector.According to the Minister, weavers are being supported through a range of initiatives, including the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, PM MITRA Parks, the National Handloom Development Programme, the Raw Material Supply Scheme and the Weavers’ Mudra Scheme. These programmes provide assistance in the form of modern looms, raw materials, worksheds, design development, marketing support, credit facilities and social security measures.Mr. Kishan Reddy said the government was also integrating technology with the handloom and textile sectors to improve productivity, quality and market access. Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, automation and advanced analytics are being leveraged to make the sector more competitive, he added.Describing the handloom and textile industry as a vital pillar of India’s economy, the Minister said it provides direct and indirect employment to nearly five crore people and generates substantial foreign exchange earnings for the country.BJP chiefMeanwhile, Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao extended greetings to handloom weavers, artisans and their families on National Handloom Day. He said the observance revives the spirit of the Swadeshi movement and reflects India’s rich weaving heritage.Referring to Telangana’s handloom tradition, Mr. Rao said regions such as Narayanpet, Kothakota, Gadwal, Pochampally and Sircilla have earned global recognition for their distinctive products. He appealed to the public to support weavers by purchasing and wearing handloom fabrics, thereby strengthening the livelihoods of handloom families.Organisational meetingA Telangana BJP organisational meeting was also held at the party’s national headquarters in New Delhi with national president Nitin Nabin. The meeting was attended by Mr. Ramchander Rao, Mr. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Rajya Sabha member K. Laxman, and Lok Sabha members Dharmapuri Arvind, Godam Nagesh, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, and Raghunandan Rao. Telangana in-charge Abhay Patil and State General Secretary (Organisation) Chandrashekhar Tiwari also attended the meeting. Published - August 07, 2026 07:31 pm IST