KTR asks Revanth to give Bathukamma saree orders to weavers, clear Rs 270 cr pending bills

HYDERABAD: In an open letter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, BRS working president KT Rama Rao asked the Chief Minister to initiate steps to revive the dying textile sector in the State by placing orders for Batukamma sarees, and school uniforms and paying Rs 270 crore worth pending dues to the weavers.

“The textile sector has prospered during the 10 years of BRS rule. When your Congress Government came, it was again in crisis. Due to the vindictive attitude of your Congress Government, for the last four months, the weavers have been deprived of handloom work and the power looms have been completely closed,” KTR said.

He said that the lives of farmers, labourers, and tradesmen were in dire straits and the situation became untenable. “Due to the lack of sincerity and foresight of your Government, thousands of weavers, power loom workers and their families are on the road. Despite that, your Government has no mercy. The worst thing is that there is no response from your Government even though they are continuing their agitation demanding work,” the former IT and Industries Minister observed.

“The ruling party leaders are insulting the workers. It hurts their psyche. Recently, Congress leader KK Mahender Reddy's comments have hurt every worker's heart, “KTR said adding that a weaver named Taduka Srinivas died by suicide by hanging himself in the Sircilla due to financial difficulties. It's not suicide. It is murder by the Congress Government. The Congress's short-sightedness is evident from their comments,” the BRS working president pointed out.

KTR said that when K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), took over the reins of the administration after achieving Telangana, gave top priority to the weavers and the textile industry in Telangana and took many revolutionary decisions to take it out of the crisis.

To support this complex industry, KCR personally called the textile industry leaders and conducted a day-long review with the officials. It was decided to double the wages of weavers and labourers, and a concrete action plan was prepared so that every worker could earn 15,000 to 20,000 per month and live a dignified life.

“We have started programmes like ‘Handloom Mitra’ and ‘Netannaku Cheyutha’. For this, we have made the biggest budget allocation in the last 60 years. But Congress gave orders for the Rajiv Vidya Mission and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan programmes, to other States, as a result, the workers could not find work,” KTR said.

The BRS Government launched the most prestigious Bathukamma sarees scheme to provide more work and food to the workers, KTR said. “In addition orders for clothes were given during Ramzan and Christmas. Orders are placed for about eight months a year. Power loom workers in Karimnagar and Sircilla were also given orders worth crores of rupees during the BRS regime. All the problems of the textile industry have been solved,” he said.

He informed the Chief Minister that the earlier Government used to release the GO regarding the orders of Bathukamma sarees in February every year. “But since the beginning of March, there has been no movement from the Congress Government. Weavers are worried. Since this is a crucial issue concerning 35,000 workers and their families, the Congress government should immediately take action on a war footing, KTR urged the CM.