Rupees 750 cr to provide tools to artisans

Ongole: Prakasam District Collector Vadarevu Vinay Chand announced that the government has been spending Rs 750 crore under Adarana-2 programme, to provide modern tools, technology, marketing and financial support to the artisans and those pursuing traditional occupations.

He participated as chief guest at an awareness programme on Adarana-2 held at the DRRM Municipal High School here on Monday.

Addressing a huge gathering at the programme, the Collector said that the government was prioritising BC welfare since 2014 and also has been increasing the budget allocations for them every year. He informed that the government had allocated Rs 13,000 crore under BC Sub-plan in latest budget and asked the public to utilise the scheme for increasing income levels and to improve the living standards.

Another chief guest and Ongole MLA Damacharla Janardhana Rao said that the government was giving modern tools at 90 percent subsidy to the beneficiaries from backward classes and allocated Rs 450 crore in the budget for the tools.

MLC Pothula Suneetha, AP Nayi Brahman Federation president Guntupalli Nageswara Rao, AP Rajaka Federation chairman Rajamundry Narayana, Viswa Brahman Federation chairman Simhadri Kanakachari, BC Welfare Department officials Nageswara Rao, Lakshmi Durga and others also participated in the programme.