Make best use of BC Bandhu assistance, Harish Rao tells traditional artisans

SIDDIPET: Telangana Health and Finance Minister Harish Rao has called upon the beneficiaries to make the best use of Rs 1 lakh given by the Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) under BC Bandhu scheme to become self-employed.

At a programme organised by the BC Welfare Association at Viola Gardens in Siddipet on Sunday, Harish Rao distributed BC Bandhu scheme cheques to 300 beneficiaries for the first time in Telangana in Siddipet Assembly Constituency. "KCR is committed to strengthening the traditional artisans in Telangana. It is just the beginning and will be a continuous process. All the eligible artisans' families hailing from backward-class communities will be provided with Rs 1 lakh assistance under the BC Bandhu scheme in a transparent manner," Harish Rao said.

Harish Rao criticised that earlier Governments had created several hurdles to support the BCs in the name of bank linkages, surety for loans and reduced the subsidies. After the BRS Government came to power, KCR took the initiative of providing Rs 1 lakh assistance to the BCs without any surety and documentation. The Chief Minister was working with the aim of providing holistic development for all sections of the people in the State, Harish Rao said.

Highlighting the measures taken by the BRS Government for the welfare of backward class communities, the minister said that free power supply was given to Rajakas and Nayee Brahmins. Apart from that, a license auto renewal system had been introduced for Geetha Karmikulu, reservations for the Goud community in liquor shops, sheep were distributed to Kurumas and Yadavs under the Sheep Distribution Scheme for their upliftment and traditional handloom weavers were encouraged by distributing handloom sarees to women during Dussehra and Bathukamma festival, he said.

“It is a proud moment for Siddipet as the local fishermen are exporting tonnes of fishes and prawns to Vijayawada, Kolkata, Chandalapur in Maharashtra, Hyderabad and other parts of the country,” Harish Rao said. About 300 BC residential hostels had been established in Telangana in the last nine years and a degree BC residential hostel would be opened in Siddipet within a week, the minister said. People should stand beside KCR striving for the upliftment of traditional artisans and extend their blessings to the BRS Government in the upcoming elections, Harish Rao said.