Latest news with #Padmashali
Hans India
08-08-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Lokesh vows support to weavers
Mangalagiri: Underscoring the government's commitment to uplift traditional artisans, minister for education, IT, and electronics Nara Lokesh said the state is actively working to enhance the livelihoods of weavers, with a clear goal of doubling their income in the coming years. Speaking at the 11th National Handloom Day celebrations held at the Weaver's Hall in Autonagar, Mangalagiri, Lokesh pointed to a slew of initiatives taken to support the handloom community — ranging from the distribution of 873 spinning wheels during his time in opposition to collaborations with companies like Tata Tanera that have already helped increase weavers' earnings by 30 per cent. He also recalled the support extended to weavers during the Covid-19 pandemic, including access to medicines and oxygen cylinders. Addressing the gathering with the spirited slogan 'Jai Chenetha', Lokesh hailed the skill and dedication of weavers, referring to them as 'handloom artists' who bring designs to life from dyed thread to finished fabric. He emphasised the government's ongoing commitment to strengthening their welfare through infrastructure, innovation, and institutional partnerships. The minister also pointed to support extended to other artisanal communities, citing the Lakshmi Narasimha Swarnakara Welfare Association's initiatives to provide goldsmiths with health insurance and financial assistance. Lokesh announced the appointment of key Padmashali leaders from Mangalagiri to significant positions, Nandam Abaddiah as Chairman of the Padmashali Corporation, T Janaki Devi to the TTD Board, and Chillapalli Srinivas Rao as chairman of APSMIDC. Calling for a greater recognition of the community's history, Lokesh urged Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to declare the birth anniversary of renowned weavers' leader Pragada Kotaiah as an official government celebration. He further announced that a park being developed over six acres in Tidco Housing would be named after Kotaiah and feature his statue. Lokesh, who won from Mangalagiri with a massive margin of 91,413 votes in the 2024 elections, credited this mandate for the emergence of a 'triple engine' governance model—Prime Minister Modi at the Centre, Chandrababu Naidu in the state, and himself serving locally. As a symbolic tribute to the state's rich textile heritage, Lokesh presented Chief Minister Naidu with a map of Andhra Pradesh crafted using silk and cotton threads from various weaving hubs across the state. The event was also attended by BC welfare, handlooms and textiles minister S Savitha, handlooms and handicrafts honorary advisor Suchitra Ella, MLC chief whip Panchumarthi Anuradha, TTD member T Janaki Devi, and other dignitaries.
The Hindu
08-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Telangana Cabinet expansion: A calculated move towards social justice
The long-awaited expansion of the Telangana Cabinet reflected the Congress Government's commitment to social justice and inclusive representation. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy gave the final touches on Saturday (June 7, 2025) night on what appears to be a politically astute, yet socially balanced reshuffle, since the all the three new Ministers are from the marginalised communities. The expansion underscores Revanth Reddy's 'social justice formula', which he has consistently advocated since assuming office. The decision to induct three Ministers from downtrodden castes, including one from the Mudiraj community, aligns with the Congress's larger social narrative and follows in the wake of the recent caste survey conducted by the government. Ponnam Prabhkar from the Goud Community and Konda Surekha from Munnuru Kapus, two strong OBC communities (Konda Surekha is a Padmashali but her husband is a Munnuru Kapu) have already been accommodated in the initial Cabinet formation. The addition of a Mudiraj Minister now brings balance among the dominant Backward Classes. Notably, for the first time in Telangana's political history, four Ministers from Scheduled Castes (SCs) will serve simultaneously in the Cabinet, a record, especially when the Speaker of the Assembly also belongs to the SC community. This is being seen as a direct reflection of Rahul Gandhi's influence, pushing the party toward greater representation for the marginalised. However, the expansion is not without its political friction. Three berths remain vacant, with Minorities and Scheduled Tribes (STs) still awaiting representation. The move has left Reddy leaders, traditionally powerful in Telangana politics, on the sidelines, caught in a power tussle between Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy and P. Sudershan Reddy. The three vacancies are directly related to the party's dilemma in choosing one among them. P Sudershan Reddy, a Congress veteran worked in Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy's Cabinet in the combined State. His name was pushed hard by the CM Revanth Reddy with the high command. Rajgopal Reddy, in particular, is likely to feel betrayed, as his return to Congress from the BJP before the elections was reportedly conditional upon a Cabinet berth. Even the party high command was in his favour, but the challenge was to balance the equations. His brother Komatireddy Venkata Reddy is already in the Cabinet and so is N. Uttam Kumar Reddy — both from the combined Nalgonda district. Another Minister from the same district and that too from Reddy community looks near impossible in the Cabinet structure. Ironically, G. Vivek Venkatswamy, who joined the Congress alongside Rajgopal Reddy, has made it into the Cabinet. Vivek's inclusion, though beneficial in optics and outreach, given his media influence and his father G. Venkataswamy's legacy, may trigger accusations of dynasty politics. His brother G. Vinod, is a sitting MLA, and his son, G. Vamshi Krishna, is an MP, raising eyebrows within the party. Another notable omission is Prem Sagar Rao from Adilabad, a loyalist who held the party's flag high in northern Telangana when most of the leadership switched sides to BRS or BJP between 2014 and 2024. His exclusion suggests that loyalty alone does not guarantee the reward. First-time faces All the new entrants are first-time MLAs, symbolising a push for fresh blood in the government. While this bodes well for generational change and grassroots connection, it also reveals the influence of Revanth Reddy, who had his mark in the selection. The careful balancing of caste identities, combined with political consolidation, points to a strategic repositioning by the Congress in Telangana. The move signals to voters that the party is serious about social justice, while also subtly laying the groundwork for the 2029 battle. Minority and STs await their chance With Minority and ST representation still pending, and Reddy leaders restive, this expansion is likely just the beginning of a broader political evolvement. Whether this bold social justice experiment will yield long-term gains or internal discord will depend on how Revanth Reddy manages party expectations, governance performance, and caste equations in the months ahead.
