KCR government to gift 1.0457 Crore saris during Batukamma festival

 After announcing Rs 1000 per month dole for poor single women, a first in the country the K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s government is now planning to distribute 1.0457 saris to poor women during the upcoming ‘Bathukamma’ festival in September. The government hopes to benefit the ailing handloom sector in the state which is unable to withstand competition from power loom sector.

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 saris required for the distribution have been procured from the handloom and power loom sectors to support the weavers and workers. People’s representatives and District Collectors were asked to monitor and supervise the programme.

 The Chief Minister has examined the quality of saris to be distributed and expressed satisfaction over the quality. “People in Telangana celebrate Bathukamma and Dussera festivals cutting across religion and caste. This is a State’s festival. We have decided to gift saris to the poor women from all the communities, Hindu, Muslim, Christian etc., and from all the castes,” the CM declared.

 These saris will reach the district head quarters from the making units in the second week of September. From the district centres, they will be transported to the ration shops where the distribution will take place. Coloured border saris have been ordered for elderly women while printed saris are meant for the young women.

In case a woman beneficiary cannot come to the ration shop, her husband or father or mother can take it. In the ration shop, the beneficiaries should show their Aadhar or Voter identity card or any other identity card. Bathukamma is a colourful floral festival of Telangana and is celebrated by womenfolk with exotic flowers of the region. The festival has over the years become a symbol of Telangana culture and identity.

The Telangana government had already decided to procure school uniforms from local handlooms. It has also been decided to upgrade about 50,000 power looms in the state and replace about 10,000 existing looms which have become obsolete.