The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Left asks State to save traditional crafts

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Monday, Jun 30, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Left asks State to save traditional crafts

show of solidarity: CPI (M) floor leader Nomula Narasimhaiah addressing artisans in Hyderabad on Sunday. - PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

HYDERABAD: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the CPI stressed the need for launching a united struggle for protecting traditional crafts which are adversely affected by the advent of mechanisation and entry of multinational companies.

The Left parties’ have decided to mobilise artisans engaged in different trades for a “Chalo Assembly” protest during the monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly in August to mount pressure on the government.

CPI (M) floor leader in the Assembly N. Narasimhaiah and his CPI counterpart Chada Venkata Reddy made this clear at a seminar on the ‘Adverse impact of globalisation on traditional crafts’ organised here on Sunday. Representatives of various artisans’ associations attended the two-day seminar that was presided over by CPI State secretariat member K. Ramakrishna.

Mr. Narasimhaiah expressed concern that entry of multinational companies was hitting the lives of those dependent on these trades for generations. Though there was a scope for strengthening traditional crafts that generate wealth at village level, the government was indifferent in coming to the rescue of the artisans who were committing suicides.

Mr. Venkata Reddy lamented that the Government which opened the door for MNCs did not show alternatives to domestic artisans leaving them in the lurch. The government that neglected the sector since the past four years was now announcing sops like Pavala Vaddi (three per cent interest a year) for these sections with an eye on the next elections.

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Andhra Pradesh