KCR announces welfare measures for Goud community

Hyderabad:  The Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday announced several measures for the welfare of Gouda community in the State, including a hike in their pension of Rs 1,000 to Rs 200. The pension which was benefitting the members of Toddy Tappers Co-operative Societies (TCS) will now cover TFT (Tree for Tappers) members.

Making a statement in the State Legislative Assembly he said that the decision will benefit about 30,000 families of Gouda Community, for which the concerned officials were already instructed to complete the process of converting TFT into TCS in next 10 days. He said that it was decided to increase the license renewal period from existing 5 years to 10 years.  As part of Telanganaku Haritha Haaram (TKHH), raising of Eetha and Khajur plants was taken up in a big way. 

In the State so far 1.70 crore saplings were planted.  In coming days with the co-ordination of Excise and forest departments, the plantation of Eetha on Tank bunds, fore shores of tanks, along the Rivulets and Rivers will be taken up in a big way. “In addition to all the above, I am announcing good news to the Gouda Community. All Tree Tax arrears are waived off.  Also the Tree Tax which is being paid by the tappers on the basis of trees is totally waived.  

Even though this is going to cost Rs 16 crores burden per year, to the Government keeping the welfare of the Gouda Community this step is taken,” he said. The Government is also allotting 5 acres of land and sanctioning Rs 5 crores for construction of Gouda Bhavan, which, he said will showcase the glory of the Gouda Community.  “We hope this building will become a centre for Socio, Economic and Political upliftment of Gouda Community,” said the Chief Minister.

KCR said that the previous government ‘badly’ delayed payment of ex-gratia in the cases of death or permanent disability to the tappers who fell from trees while tapping. The arrears pending for three years before formation of Telangana State was Rs 6.38 crores and the TRS government paid at one go, immediately after coming to power. 

“In addition to that, on humanitarian grounds we have increased the Ex-gratia amount. Previously in case of death Rs 2 lakhs and in case of permanent disability Rs.50 Lakh was paid. We have increased the amount in both the cases to Rs 5 Lakhs”, he added.