KTR holds Govt responsible for death of 10 weavers, suspects scrapping of Batukamma Saree programme

HYDERABAD: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao said the weaver community was pushed into distress after the Congress Government took over the reins in Telangana.

Taking to X on Tuesday, he said that so far 10 weavers died due to financial troubles as the Congress Government refused to pay for the pending bills of the Batukamma sarees and school uniforms to the powerloom sector, particularly in Sircilla.

“After the BRS came to power, the distribution of Bathukamma sarees was started to prevent the suicides of weavers by providing them gainful employment. Due to the orders of Bathukamma sarees for seven years by the BRS, the suicides of handlooms and weavers in the state had stopped, KTR noted.

He recalled that the BRS Government used to distribute one crore sarees during Bathukamma, Ramzan, and Christmas with a budget of Rs 350 crore. KTR alleged that once the Congress government came to power, it had conspired to stop the distribution of Bathukamma sarees.

“With the introduction of Batukamma sarees poor women got a saree as a gift from the Government during the festival. Similarly, the government should realise that many people get employment due to these programmes,” KTR pointed out.

KTR asked the Government not to punish weavers to take revenge on BRS. “Already 10 people have died by suicide due to the suspension of orders for Bathukamma sarees, “KTR said posting an article that was published in an English newspaper that the Government is planning to cancel the Bathukamma orders. KTR said that the Government should stop the ill-conceived steps and immediately place orders for Bathukamma sarees and provide employment to weavers.