AP Govt to Enact Law for Protection of Backward Classes: Naidu
Chirala (Andhra Pradesh), Aug. 7 (TNT): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday announced that the Coalition Government would soon enact a law to ensure the protection of Backward Classes (BCs), reaffirming its commitment to the welfare and empowerment of the community.
Addressing the 12th National Handloom Day celebrations at Kothapeta village in Chirala constituency of Bapatla district, the Chief Minister launched the ‘Netanna Sevalo’ welfare scheme and released Rs 179 crore as financial assistance to 71,536 eligible handloom families, providing Rs 25,000 to each beneficiary family.
Naidu said the government would not compromise on welfare or development despite financial constraints and cautioned people against attempts to obstruct the State’s progress.
Describing handloom as a symbol of India’s cultural heritage, he said Andhra Pradesh is home to renowned weaving centres such as Chirala, Venkatagiri, Dharmavaram, Uppada, Mangalagiri, Ponduru, Pedana, Srikalahasti and Narasapuram, with around 1.27 lakh people dependent on the sector for their livelihood.
Highlighting the government’s initiatives for the handloom sector, the Chief Minister said free electricity up to 200 units per month is being provided to handloom families and 500 units to powerloom units, benefiting more than 62,500 handloom families and 10,000 powerloom units.
He said the government was also providing Rs 4,000 monthly pension under NTR Pension Bharosa to around 85,000 weavers, extending cash credit support to handloom cooperative societies, approving new handloom clusters and creating marketing and infrastructure facilities for the sector.
Naidu said projects such as a Handloom Park at Mangalagiri, a Handloom and Handicrafts Museum at Amaravati and a textile recycling unit in Visakhapatnam would further strengthen the industry.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to Backward Classes, the Chief Minister said a draft legislation for the protection of BCs had already been prepared and would be enacted soon.
He said the government had also implemented welfare measures for various BC communities, including financial assistance to fishing families during the annual fishing ban, allocation of mining leases to the Vaddera community, excise shops to toddy tappers and additional subsidy for rooftop solar installations for BC beneficiaries.
The Chief Minister also announced that the State Government would introduce universal health insurance providing coverage of Rs 2.5 lakh for every citizen.
Criticising the previous YSRCP government, Naidu alleged that it had stalled the development of Amaravati and damaged the State’s image.
He said works on the capital city had resumed after the Coalition Government assumed office and announced that the Seed Access Road, the main arterial road of Amaravati, would be inaugurated on August 13.
Naidu said Chirala’s handloom products enjoy national recognition and reiterated the government’s commitment to restoring the town’s textile prominence. He also announced the development of the Suryalanka-Bapatla-Chirala tourism corridor under the Swadesh Darshan scheme at a cost of Rs 97 crore.
Later, the Chief Minister reviewed the performance of district officials, visited exhibition stalls, released the ‘Bay of Bapatla’ tourism website and handbook, launched the Bapatla LEAPS youth skill development programme, and witnessed the signing of agreements with four organisations, including Fabindia, to promote the handloom sector.
TNT KM
