Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Schemes not reaching artisans, says CPI

ANANTAPUR: The Andhra Pradesh ‘Cheti Vruttidarula Sangham’ affiliated to Communist Party of India (CPI) has alleged that the schemes announced by the government for artisans have not been reaching them and those still depending on traditional vocations have been facing hard times to make both ends meets.

Artisans like potters, blacksmiths, carpenters, goldsmiths, barbers, fishermen, washermen, stone-crushers, toddy tappers and others led by APCVS and CPI activists staged a protest in front of the Backward Classes Service Cooperative Society office here on Thursday seeking assistance from the government to sustain in their vocations.

Speaking at the protest C. Lingamaiah of APCVS, P. Narayanaswamy of CPI, K. Muralimohan, K. Pothulaiah and others of different associations said industrialisation had already forced many traditional vocations to the peril. Conditions for those who were still continuing with their vocations were also pathetic as corporate and multinational organisations were entering fields like fisheries and hair dressing.

The government promises like tax subsidies to artisans, waiving loans and sanctioning fresh loans with 25 paise interest rate were not being implemented in practice. Even the scheme to supply tools and implements for artisans was also discontinued. Construction of dhobi ghats, giving implements and subsidy in electricity bills of dhobi ghats were also not being done, they explained.

Loans being given under Rajiv Abhyudaya Yojana were reaching only the middlemen and most of the artisans were even denied facilities like pensions, house sites, houses and ration cards. As all the artisans were BCs they also needed protection from attacks. Further, they demanded allotment of rooms for artisans in municipal shopping complexes in towns for carrying out their business, sanction of micro finance among others.

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