Telangana Govt announces pension for all eligible toddy tappers

Hyderabad, Aug 18 (TNT): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday announced that the State government would provide pensions to all eligible toddy tappers and take responsibility for protecting their livelihoods.

Unveiling the statue of Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud at Tank Bund here, the Chief Minister said Wild Date and Palmyra trees would be planted on government lands and along canal embankments to create additional livelihood opportunities for the toddy tapper community.

The government was already providing compensation of Rs 5 lakh in case of accidental death of a toddy tapper, he said.

Addressing a gathering after unveiling the statue, Revanth Reddy appealed to all communities to continue their traditional occupations while ensuring that their children receive quality education.

He said the government was ready to allocate adequate funds for students and provide quality food in welfare hostels.

“Education is the only way for our children to rise to positions of power and leadership,” he said, adding that children should be sent to schools even if it involved financial hardship.

The Chief Minister said the government was providing nutritious meals, breakfast, milk and ragi malt to students in welfare hostels.

A monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 was also being provided to those enrolling in Advanced Training Centres (ATCs), he added.

Revanth Reddy accused the previous BRS government of encouraging communities to continue traditional occupations while neglecting the education of their children.

He said the Congress government was encouraging children from such communities to pursue higher education and become doctors, lawyers and IAS officers.

Contrasting the administration of former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao with his government, Revanth Reddy said while the former practised “family justice”, his government was following a policy of “social justice”.

He cited the appointment of Mahesh Goud as TPCC president and the inclusion of BC leaders Ponnam Prabhakar, Vakiti Srihari, Seethakka and Konda Surekha in the Cabinet as examples of social representation.

He also referred to the nomination of Anil Kumar Yadav and Vem Narendar Reddy as MPs and the appointment of Kodandaram as an MLC.

The Chief Minister said his government had also nominated the granddaughter of Chakali Ailamma and Srikanthachari’s mother Shankaramma to the Telangana State Women’s Commission.

“This government does not belong to me alone. It is a government dedicated to social justice and welfare. It belongs to everyone,” he said.

Revanth Reddy also accused BRS leaders of spreading false information against the government through media and social media platforms and levelled allegations against opposition leaders over alleged occult practices.

Listing out his government’s initiatives, the Chief Minister said the State had conducted a BC caste census and implemented SC categorisation.

He said the government had provided Rs 36,000 crore under the Rythu Bharosa scheme and procured paddy worth Rs 95,000 crore.

The government had also facilitated bank-linked loans worth Rs 60,000 crore for women’s self-help groups and was establishing Young India integrated schools in every constituency at a cost of Rs 200 crore each.

The Young India Sports University and Sports Academy had also been launched, he said.

Revanth Reddy said the government was constructing seven lakh Indiramma houses and alleged that if the previous BRS government had built houses during its 10-year tenure, 20 lakh houses could have been constructed.

He said the State was facing a debt burden of Rs 8.11 lakh crore and was paying around Rs 75,000 crore annually as interest on loans borrowed during the previous government.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the Congress would win 117 seats in the next Assembly elections and return to power for a second consecutive term. He appealed to the Gouda community to extend its support to the Congress.

Remembering the contribution of Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud, Revanth Reddy said Papanna Goud emerged from the Bahujan community and fought alongside Bahujans rather than working solely for his caste or family.

He said Papanna Goud had led a campaign and hoisted the flag atop Golconda Fort.

The Chief Minister said the legacy of Papanna Goud should remain an inspiration for the people of Telangana. He recalled visiting Necklace Road and suggesting the installation of statues of Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule there.

He said the statue of Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud should be properly maintained and kept accessible to the public. He directed officials to ensure proper lighting and other necessary arrangements at the statue site.

Revanth Reddy said historical details about Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud were preserved in the British Library and stressed the responsibility of the Gouda community to safeguard the statue and preserve his legacy.

He also recalled that leaders such as Bala Goud and Mallikarjun Goud had risen to prominence within the Congress party.

TNT TS