The Revanth Reddy government, which announced that it would distribute two durable sarees with good designs to 63 lakh women in self-help groups for the Sankranti festival, is now breaking its word. The Sankranti festival is in two days. But there is no announcement from the government about the distribution of sarees. At least, orders have not been given to the weavers.
The SHG women are angry that the words spoken by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Minister Seethakka are remaining as just empty promises. The weavers are saying that Rs. 450 crores are required for more than a crore sarees and that it will take more than 4 months to make them.
“The Bathukamma sarees given by the previous government are not of good quality. They have not invested enough in them. There are 63 lakh women in self-help groups. We will order 1.3 crore sarees, two sarees for each with good designs. We will soon distribute durable sarees to all women,” CM Revanth Reddy had assured at the inauguration of IIHT at the Lalit Kala Toran in Hyderabad on September 9.
The BRS government had given orders to weavers 6 months before Dussehra to make one crore sarees and sanctioned Rs. 350 crore. But the Congress government cancelled the distribution of Bathukamma sarees. It said that colorful sarees would be given for Sankranthi.
On December 19, it was said that the leaders of women’s groups were called and the designs will be selected. But no funds were sanctioned, nor were orders given for manufacturing.
Women hoped that the government would distribute sarees for Sankranthi and weavers hoped that if they placed orders for manufacturing, they would get employment. But they are sighing that they were left disappointed because they had hoped for the announcements of the Congress government.
“We could not provide sarees for the Bathukamma festival. We will distribute two quality sarees to the Anganwadi workers, helpers and 63 lakh members of women’s associations for the coming Sankranthi. We will select the designs for this and place orders immediately,” Minister Seethakka assured in a meeting of Anganwadi workers and helpers on November 4. But after that, the matter was not taken care of.
