The Telugu Desam supre-me, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, vowed to fight for the rights of Backward Class communities and demanded 33 per cent reservation in employment, greater allocation of funds and formation of a special ministry for them.
The TD chief, addressing delegates at the Devanga national-level meet here on Saturday, expressed concern over the plight of weavers and demanded several sops including 25 per cent subsidy on yarn, pension of Rs.1,000 to those aged 50 years, interest-free loan up to Rs.1 lakh and financial assistance worth Rs.1 lakh to help them construct a house.
Referring to the 2001 census, he said that only 45per cent of them were literate, and called upon the elders to educate their children.
He asked the members to make efforts to develop themselves in the socio-political and economic spheres.
He claimed credit for having two MPs and three MLAs in the party belonging to the Devanga community and said that the Telugu Desam was committed to the welfare of these communities.
Referring to budgetary allocation to weavers, the TD chief said that the Centre had allocated Rs.350 for the welfare of weavers in its budget of about Rs.12 lakh crores while state government had allotted only Rs.50 crores in its budget of Rs.1.13 lakh crores.
He said that though the Congress government had announced allocation of Rs.336 crores for the welfare of weavers in 2007 itself, so far, nearly Rs.135 crores were released and of this, Rs.27 crores was released soon after the Devanga meet started in Rajahmundry on Friday, fearing criticism.
He demanded that state government allow weavers to take up work similar to the facility being provided to farm workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gua-rantee Scheme.
He said that they were going to take up the cause of weavers in the ensuing budget session in the state legislative Assembly.
The TD supremo said, “Our party will support your cause and will fight until you get socio-political and economic justice.”
source : DC
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