Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said the State government would allocate funds for the Leather Industries Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh and help it and the Madiga community members dependent on the industry develop.
In the presence of Mr. Naidu, AP Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti president Janny Ramanaiah Madiga and working president M.S. Raju Madiga joined the Telugu Desam Party at the ‘Madigala Mahasabha’ programme organised at Ajith Singh Nagar.
Mr. Naidu said mini, medium and major leather parks would be developed helping the Madiga community members become entrepreneurs and get jobs.
Mr. Naidu announced pension of ₹1,500 to the drum beaters among the community. “Dappu brothers [drum beaters] entertain all of us and also provide their service on all important occasions. There is a need to help them. The government will provide ₹1,500 pension for about 5,000 drum beaters,” he said.
Govt. initiatives
About the government initiatives towards the welfare of the scheduled communities, Mr. Naidu said the State government was organising Dalita Tejam programme.
He said B.R. Ambedkar was given the Bharata Ratna for which TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao had played a key role in the National Front government.
Mr. Naidu also announced ₹40,000 cash prize to the couples opting for intercaste marriages among the Schedule Castes.
Plea for separate quota
Mr. Ramaniah and Mr. Raju sought implementation of the Go.No. 25 issued by the TDP government and provide separate reservation for the community. They assured the support of the community to the party.
Minister K.S. Jawahar, D. Umamaheswara Rao, Kaluva Srinivasulu, K. Kalavenkata Rao, MP K. Srinivas and others were present.
