The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : SC status sought for Rajakas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 06, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

SC status sought for Rajakas

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH, APRIL 5. The Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Washermen's Cooperative Federation, A. Anjaiah, on Tuesday favoured inclusion of Rajakas (washermen) in the Scheduled Castes list, as is the case in 21 States.

Inclusion of washermen in the SC list would not jeopardise the interests of any other community, he asserted at a press conference. Scheduled Castes in the State included only 54 sub-castes as against 110 in Tamil Nadu. A Rajaka Mahasabha would be organised in August, he said.

Fair price depots would be set up in all mandals to sell raw material required for washermen, Mr. Anjaiah said. Washermen cooperative societies were formed in 1,126 mandals in the State and each eligible family extended Rs. 5,000 as loan at four per cent interest. Loans of Rs. 2 lakhs were being disbursed through Indira Gandhi `Rajaka Vruthi' scheme, he said.

Retirement benefits

Mr. Anjaiah promised steps to provide insurance and retirement benefits to washermen in Andhra Pradesh, on the lines of Kerala. Each MLA was urged to release funds for building 10 dhobi ghats and MPs urged to fund 20 dhobi ghats each, he said. Proposals were also forwarded to build 200 pucca houses for washermen in each mandal.

The Raja Samkshema Sangham, formed in the State, would meet every quarter and initiate steps to meet their needs and resolve their problems, he said. The executive director of the District SC Service Cooperative Society, E. Murali Manohar, the Rajaka Sangham director, G. Venkata Narayana, and officials took part.

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