Government striving for empowerment of BCs, says Lokesh

IT Minister Nara Lokesh said that the State government has been striving to empower BCs, who have stood by the TDP, on all fronts. Mr. Lokesh on Saturday unveiled the nine-feet statue of saint-poet Bhakta Kanakadasa at Kalyandurg in Anantapur district on the occasion of his 538th birth anniversary.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr. Lokesh said that BCs have been the backbone of TDP and the party has become a synonym for the BCs. Mr Lokesh said it was the TDP government that had laid the foundation for the Bhairavatippa project in the past and it would be completed by the TDP government itself.

“It is the TDP government that had brought a car factory to the drought-prone region and will bring more industries to the region,” he said, and added that the per capita income of Anantapur, which is at fifth place, will be taken to third place by promoting industries and horticulture. The Minister said that they have successfully taken up the issue of non-renewal of its Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) to Rural Development Trust (RDT) with the Centre.

Mr Lokesh said that it was the TDP which had empowered the BCs politically and made leaders from Kuraba community an MP, Municipal Vice-Chairperson, and also market yard chairpersons. He said the Kuraba community had been empowered by the TDP politically and economically. They had formed the Kuraba Corporation and spent ₹300 crore for the community when it was in power during 2014-19. He said the government had given subsidy to the Kurabas for purchase of sheep on subsidy and also for its insurance.

He said that cow sheds were being constructed by the Panchayat Raj department headed by K. Pawan Kalyan, and he will make efforts for the construction of cattle sheds. “We will also construct community halls for the Kuraba community in the next 12 months, provide honorarium to the Kuraba community priests and also temples for Berrappa Swamy,” he said.

Mr. Lokesh said that BCs were subjected to harassment by the previous government, which brought a revolt among the community and gave a resounding victory to the TDP. On the request of the community, we are celebrating the birth anniversary of Bhakta Kanakadasa as a State festival, he said.