Assurance of improved livelihood for weavers and as a Dusara gift from ‘elder brother KCR’ to women is the idea behind the welfare scheme, said Minister for Textiles K.T. Rama Rao here on Monday.
The saree distribution programme, ahead of the Dusara festivities, is on for the third successive year, with over a crore sarees ready for distribution, the Minister said.
It was in this district, at Pochampally, where seven weavers committed suicide unable to support their livelihood in the early 2000s, and the government of the day too ignored the community, he recollected.
“I am happy to start the distribution programme here. Under the TRS government, even students are getting weaved school uniforms, and the weavers 50% subsidy on raw material, market for their produce besides financial assistance under Chenetha Lakshmi Scheme,” Mr. Rao said.
Addressing a full gathering of women, supporters and partymen, on the premises of the Beat Market here, the Minister assured that the government is with weavers and that no more will there be any more weaver suicides.
Establishing textile parks to sporting handloom once a week, the government is taking all measures to strengthen handloom communities, he added.
Also the Municipal Minister, Mr. Rao announced that ₹ 35 crore would be sanctioned for development of mini-tank bund on the Panagal reservoir, making it a venue for Bathukamma celebrations.
Expressing happiness, Minister for Energy G. Jagadish Reddy said Bhoodan Pochampally in undivided Nalgonda was the birthplace of the idea of distributing Bathukamma sarees.
Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukender Reddy observed that the present state of development in Telangana was possible only because of a separate State.
Director of Textiles Shailaja Ramaiyer, District Collector Gaurav Uppal, Superintendent of Police A.V. Ranganath, Zilla Parishad Chairman Banda Narender Reddy and legislators of various constituencies in the district were present.
