Sircilla textile town metamorphoses with a make-over; weavers’ hands are full with government placing bulk orders

A few years ago Sircilla was synonymous with suicides, reporting the highest number of suicides by powerloom weavers in the unified Andhra Pradesh due to unemployment and mounting debts.

Now, it is the other way round. Weavers’ hands are full with work with the State government placing bulk orders for school uniforms, Bathukamma sarees, Ramzan and Christmas gifts, etc.

Besides, the womenfolk have shifted from rolling beedis – which fetched them a pittance – to working in the Apparel park producing garments for various branded companies.

Big face-lift

The tiny textile town with dingy looks was given a big face-lift by Sircilla legislator K. Taraka Rama Rao after its upgradation into district headquarters in the newly formed Rajanna-Sircilla district. Now, it has wide roads, traffic islands, municipal parks, saplings along the roads, beautified walls, and a mini-tankbund, etc. On Friday, Mr. Taraka Rama Rao, who’s also the TRS working president, participated in a series of developmental programmes in the town.

He had formally launched Akshayapatra, a scheme under which lunch is served at ₹5 to the citizens. He personally served food and partook with the general public. A modern Vaikuntadhamam (a crematorium) with all facilities in Nehrunagar was constructed at a cost of Rs. 2.4 crore. Similarly, he inaugurated a municipal park built at a cost of ₹80 lakh in Indiranagar, open gym at Shantinagar locality, and Ekalavya Community Hall.

He also distributed Sthree Nidhi tabs to 18 women of the Slum Level Federation and launched four battery-operated garbage collection vehicles for the municipality.

Incidentally, Rajanna-Sircilla district became the first in the integrated Karimnagar district to open a musical fountain at Bathukamma ghat in the town. Costing ₹60 lakh, it has become a special attraction.

TSCAB chairman K. Ravinder Rao, Collector P. Venkatram Reddy, Joint Collector Yasmeen Basha, Municipal chairperson S. Pavani and others were also present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Rajanna – Sircilla , February 09th, 2019