KCR government's 1.5 crore free saris programme runs into trouble
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The fire also raised the political heat in the state with the opposition alleging RS 150 crore scam in the purchase of saris. DH Photo
The one crore five lakh sarees distribution programme of K Chandrasekhar Rao’s government in Telangana ran into trouble on the first day with many of the beneficiary women rejecting the saris alleging poor quality and burning them at the distribution centers.
The KCR’s government took up the prgramme on the eve ‘Bathukamma’ festival hoping to benefit the ailing handloom sector in the state which is unable to withstand competition from power loom sector.
Trouble started in Bhongir of Nalgonda and Bhadrachalam and several other places of the state where the women mostly daily wage earners found that the saris given to them were not the same shown on the television. “We thought that they will give us handloom saris.
But these are Rs 50 saris made out of thin transparent cheap material,” a lady rued. Others said that they have lost Rs 300 day daily wage for a Rs 50 sari. They then lit fire to the saris and played traditional Batukamma dance around the bonfire.
The fire also raised the political heat in the state with the opposition alleging RS 150 crore scam in the purchase of saris. “These are nothing but cheap Surat made saris made out of polyester,” TDP working President Revanth Reddy said. State BJP and Congress leaders also alleged massive corruption in the purchase of saris.
However state Textiles and Handlooms Director Sailaja Ramayyar addressing press at the secretariat said that the saris are 100% polyester and are given as gift to the women of the state. “Yes there are few incidents but over all 25 lakh saris were distributed on the first day,” she said.
As per the plan all the poor women above the age of 18 years will get saris as gift irrespective of their caste, community or religion. The saris would be distributed through ration shops to a staggering 1, 04, 57, 610 women on 18, 19 and 20 September.
The government has been saying that saris required for the distribution have been procured from the handloom and power loom sectors to support the weavers and workers.
The KCR’s government took up the prgramme on the eve ‘Bathukamma’ festival hoping to benefit the ailing handloom sector in the state which is unable to withstand competition from power loom sector.
Trouble started in Bhongir of Nalgonda and Bhadrachalam and several other places of the state where the women mostly daily wage earners found that the saris given to them were not the same shown on the television. “We thought that they will give us handloom saris.
But these are Rs 50 saris made out of thin transparent cheap material,” a lady rued. Others said that they have lost Rs 300 day daily wage for a Rs 50 sari. They then lit fire to the saris and played traditional Batukamma dance around the bonfire.
The fire also raised the political heat in the state with the opposition alleging RS 150 crore scam in the purchase of saris. “These are nothing but cheap Surat made saris made out of polyester,” TDP working President Revanth Reddy said. State BJP and Congress leaders also alleged massive corruption in the purchase of saris.
However state Textiles and Handlooms Director Sailaja Ramayyar addressing press at the secretariat said that the saris are 100% polyester and are given as gift to the women of the state. “Yes there are few incidents but over all 25 lakh saris were distributed on the first day,” she said.
As per the plan all the poor women above the age of 18 years will get saris as gift irrespective of their caste, community or religion. The saris would be distributed through ration shops to a staggering 1, 04, 57, 610 women on 18, 19 and 20 September.
The government has been saying that saris required for the distribution have been procured from the handloom and power loom sectors to support the weavers and workers.