Hyderabad: The Telangana government has finalized the schedule for the much-awaited distribution of free sarees to women Self-Help Group (SHG) members under the newly introduced Indiramma Sarees scheme. The state has prepared 50 lakh sarees so far and dispatched them to districts, while the remaining stock will be readied within a week under the supervision of the Handlooms and Textiles Department. The launch is planned for November 19, coinciding with the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The distribution will take place under the coordination of the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had announced the initiative on September 9 last year and allotted ₹318 crore for the procurement and production, which began in March. The government stated that the scheme aims not only to support women’s welfare but also to ensure livelihood to handloom weavers across Telangana.
Replacing the previous BRS government’s Bathukamma Sarees initiative, the Congress administration redesigned and rebranded it as Indiramma Sarees, under which each eligible SHG woman will receive two sarees free of cost. This year, the government has allocated ₹480 per saree, a significant increase from the earlier cost of ₹350. The scheme was originally planned for distribution during Bathukamma-Dasara festivities, but election-related developments and court directives led to postponements. The sarees will now be distributed exclusively to SHG members—around 64.69 lakh beneficiaries—through SERP in rural areas and MEPPMA in urban areas under district collector supervision. To ensure smooth delivery, stock has already been shifted to district-level warehouses.
The production is being undertaken by weavers in Rajanna-Sircilla, Karimnagar, and Hanumakonda districts, involving 131 weaving units and nearly 6,900 weavers, requiring an estimated 4.24 crore meters of fabric. Officials say the initiative is expected to boost women’s welfare and further strengthen the handloom sector while enhancing the government’s engagement with a major women voter base across the state.