Telangana Govt blamed for weavers woes

​Sircilla: The State government’s announcement of setting up a Textile Park in Warangal has dealt a big blow to the already ailing industry in Sircilla as most of the power looms have begun migrating.

Expressing his anguish at the 'Dasa-Disa’ debate organised by HMTV on Saturday, a local weaver K Vijay Kumar held the successive governments responsible for the plight of the weavers.

He questioned the government as to why it would only responds when some suicide takes place and anounce ex-gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh for the family of deceased.

The government, he said, should provide assistance during the life time by extending a helping hand to the weavers in form of subsidy and other such kind of help.

Some handloom workers held that weavers were made to work for more than 10 hours at a stretch and demanded that the government enforce an 8-hour work norms.

“We demand that government provide subsidy to existing power looms, rather coming up with new projects in the name of textile parks,” said G Bhaskar.

The debate which was attended by textile weavers, politicians and representatives from temple town of Vemulavada provided insights into the problems faced by the district in education, employment and inconvenience to tourists and several other issues.

The participants felt that the district was not getting the kind of importance it should have got though it is represented by Minister K Taraka Rama Rao. They said he had rarely visited Sircilla during the last two and half years.

Amongst other issues that figured during the discussion were about corruption in some of the schemes taken up by the government. A Balaiah, vice-sarpanch, of Gambhiraopet alleged that there was a scam of Rs 90 lakhs in construction of toilets under Swachh Bharat programme.

Others alleged that the local Municipal officials of Sircilla had demolished toilets. They alleged that no alternative was provided for the families, whose toilets were demolished.

Ganesh, a software engineer, who had returned from Gulf after formation of Telangana State said the government should see that some industries like glass making come up in the district, so that the youth can get employment.

He said he had left a lucrative job in Gulf to take care of his family here and hoped that things would improve in the new state. But, he said process of development was at a very slow pace and there were no employment opportunities.

Ganesh with no prospects of getting a job in the offing, he had even appeared for Group II exams. N Chandra Mouli, an old timer, felt that Sircilla and Vemulawada should be developed on par with Hanamkonda and Warangal.

The local Congress leader, Umesh Rao, alleged that KTR who had won from Sircilla remained unavailable to the people. He said they could not get his appointment even in Hyderabad.

He said KTR had made several promises on the eve of elections to the weavers. He said the Minister so far could not even get clearance for irrigation projects.

Responding to this, TRS leader, Laxma Reddy, promised that Sircilla would get water from Upper Manair through lift irrigation by next year.

He said KTR was working hard to get forest clearance for irrigation projects. The Dasa Disa was moderated by P Venkatakrishna, Chief Editor, Debates and Discussions.