The Andhra Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party OBC Morcha will organise a “Cheneta Sammelanam” at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada on August 5 to mark National Handloom Day and highlight the importance of the handloom sector.
Addressing the media on Friday, BJP OBC Morcha State president Rongala Gopi Srinivas described handloom weaving as a symbol of India’s cultural heritage, traditions and indigenous spirit. He said the handloom industry had earned global recognition for Indian civilisation over centuries and had played a significant role in the country’s freedom movement through the promotion of khadi and the charkha.
The convention, scheduled to begin at 9.30 a.m., will be preceded by a rally from the BJP State office under the slogan “We Stand With Modi”. The rally, he said, was intended to express support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives to strengthen the handloom sector and improve the welfare of weavers.
Mr. Gopi Srinivas said the BJP had recently organised a roundtable conference on issues affecting handloom workers, during which concerns relating to age limits, loom ownership and other eligibility criteria under the “Nethannala Seva” scheme were discussed. He welcomed the State government’s decision to issue G.O. Ms. No. 187, dated July 29, 2026, introducing amendments to the scheme.
He said handloom weaving was not merely an occupation but the primary source of livelihood for lakhs of families. Every loom represented the hopes of a family, every thread reflected the labour of an artisan and every handwoven fabric embodied India’s rich cultural legacy, he said.
Describing the event as more than just a gathering, Mr. Gopi Srinivas said it was aimed at protecting the dignity of weavers, securing the future of the handloom sector and promoting the spirit of self-reliance and indigenous production.
He appealed to handloom workers, representatives of weavers’ associations, public representatives, party leaders, activists and members of the public to participate in large numbers. Exhibitions, rallies and public meetings will also be organised as part of the programme, he added.