Move to revive traditional occupations

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday said that the government would provide Rs one lakh financial assistance to each of 30,000 barbers to open modern saloons in rural and semi urban areas in 2017-18 financial year.

• He assured them that the government would implement all the economic linked schemes for BCs
• He said the government is also planning to bring in an act giving ownership rights on water bodies to the fishermen

Speaking at a meeting with the representatives of Backward Classes (BC) Organisations at Pragathi Bhavan, the Chief Minister said that at least one modern saloon would be opened in every village by not only providing financial assistance but also skills with modern technology to people who depend on saloons as their livelihood.

KCR said that his government accorded top priority to revive all the traditional occupations adopted by certain communities in the villages in the new budget. He added that MBC (Most Backward Community) Corporation has been established by allocating Rs 1,000 crore, to provide financial assistance to nearly 80 communities engaged in different local professions.

He assured them that the government would implement all the economic linked schemes for BCs from May this year. He said loans would be given to all the eligible without bank linkage. He assured transparency would be adopted in the selection process at every stage. “You need not pay even Re 1 as bribe to anyone,” he added.

KCR said the government is also planning to bring in an act giving ownership rights on water bodies to the fishermen to sustain their livelihoods in the villages. He said there was a huge demand for Telangana fish in National and Global markets. Therefore, he said that the State government would explore export opportunities to help nearly 10 lakh families.

He said nearly 46,000 lakes were being revived as part of Mission Kakatiya and those lakes could be used to promote fish culture. He also listed out other schemes being implemented by his government for the upliftment of fishermen and backward classes.

Sheppard’s in the Yadav community would be provided loans with 70 per cent subsidy to buy livestock. Sheep and Goat trade has nearly Rs 20,000 crore business potential in the State.

The government would exploit all the available resources to see that Sheppard’s economic conditions improve. The representatives of BC organisations went to the camp office to extend their gratitude to CM for increasing funds to the welfare of BCs in the budget.

Chief Minister said that in terms of growth Telangana was top in the country, with a growth rate of 21 per cent. He added that Telangana was ahead of Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The Chief Minister said that the budget of new Telangana was higher than the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh. He said if Telangana increases its revenues further, then it would become beyond comparison with neighbouring States.