Andhra: Agitating weavers demand flood relief

Machilipatnam, Nov 22: About 400 weavers, including 150 women observed dharna for 24 hours in front of the Office of Assistant Director, Handloom and Textiles, demanding relief of Rs 3000 each and 20 kg rice to the families affected in the recent cyclonic storm and floods.

Sixteen weavers, including seven women, led by Telugu Desam Party state weavers cell secretary B Venugopala Rao also observed relay fast.

District TDP publicity cell secretary and B Venugopala Rao talking to UNI alleged that the authorities had neglected the weavers in the district.

They demanded that the authorities must immediately distribute the relief amount. The agitation will continue till then, they warned.

However, talking to sources, B Amrutham, Assistant Director, Handloom and Textiles said relief had already been sanctioned to 9,189 affected weavers families. ''We have made arrangements to issue cheques for Rs 2000 to each family and 20 kg of rice has already been distributed to them'', he added.

Meanwhile, over 200 TDP activists headed by former minister N Narasimha Rao and former Municipal Chairman B Arjunudu observed a dharna in front of the district collectorate here, demanding 30 kg rice, in addition to 20 kg already issued and an ex-gratia to the affected farmers.

Earlier, the protestors took out a procession through the main streets of the town.

UNI