Union Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya has assured the Golla-Kuruma communities that he would make efforts to merge them into Scheduled Tribe category by taking up the issue with the Centre.
They deserved to be brought under the ST category as a vast majority of people in the two communities were illiterates and leading a nomadic life by grazing cattle, goats and sheep, he said. “If the State Government evinces interest, I would extend all possible assistance from the Centre to establish a wool industry at Andole of Medak district,” he added.
“I will also assure the Oggu and Dolu artistes pension. Unless you become literate and pursue higher education you will remain where you are now,” said Mr. Dattatreya while addressing the Golla-Kuruma Garjana meeting, here on Monday. He said he would request the Prime Minister to get loans sanctioned through banks to caste societies to the extent of Rs.1,000 crore to supplement their occupation.
Commercial Taxes Minister T. Srinivas Yadav said that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his Government was committed to the welfare of the two communities. Therefore, as soon as he came to power he sanctioned separate bhavans for them in Hyderabad.
Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy said the State Government allocated Rs.50 crore to each district to give it to Golla Kuruma societies for promotion of sheep and goat farms on subsidy basis. He said that the average meat consumption per head in the State was 5 kg and it needs to be improved to 11 kg. He stressed the need for rearing more sheep and goats.
Member of Parliament K. Kavitha described the Golla Kurumas who were growing the sheep as farmers. She said the Government was thinking of removing middlemen system in sales and purchases of sheep and goats by creating direct markets.
Zaheerabad MP B.B. Patil, MLAs E. Ravinder Reddy, B. Govardhan, Hanmanth Shinde, MLCs V.G. Goud and D. Rajeswar and Golla Kuruma Sangham president Kesa Venu were also present.
