CM indifferent to weavers’ woes, says Jaganmohan Reddy

ANANTAPUR: Extending solidarity to the handloom weavers, who have been on a relay hunger strike for the past 37 days in Dharmavaram demanding clearance of the pending subsidy for the raw silk, YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy lashed out at the Chandrababu Naidu government for lack of compassion towards the suffering handloom weavers.The YSRC chief, who visited the weavers fast camp in Dharmavaram on Tuesday, assured them that when he becomes Chief Minister he will ensure that handloom weavers from 45 years onwards will be provided a pension of Rs 2,000 per month.

Speaking on the occasion, he said in the last three and half years, 65 handloom weavers have resorted to suicides unable to overcome the debt trap they were pushed into, due to lack of proper government support. “Realising that I am coming to support you, a few have been provided help, but later it will be back to square one,” he said.

Jaganmohan Reddy said two years ago during the National Handloom Day celebrations, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu promised to increase the subsidy amount they get on raw silk and yarn from Rs 600 to Rs 1,000. After providing subsidy for two months, the payments were stopped, he said.

The Opposition Leader was highly critical of Chandrababu Naidu for failing to fulfill the promises made to handloom weavers. He said out of `390 crore worth loans that need to be waived as promised by the Chief Minister, only `70 crore has been waived so far.  The promises pertaining to houses and looms and the promise of spending `1,000 crore for the welfare of weaving community have remained unfulfilled. “There is nothing to worry.

After a year, It will be our government. There will be no need to agitate and stage protests. What you need will be given to you and every promise is kept. Like my father YS Rajasekhara Reddy, who championed your cause, I will see that poor weavers get  pension from the age of 45 years itself. I only ask you to support my party to enable me to become Chief Minister of the State in the next elections,” he said.
Earlier, Jaganmohan Reddy interacted with farmers at Sitaram Palli village. He said the TDP government should pay adequate compensation to the affected farmers for the crop loss incurred by them.