Rs.13 cr released for Sankranthi Sambaralu

Kakinada: Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said that the State government has released Rs 13 crore, one crore for each district for organising Sankranthi Sambaralu in the State.

Participating in a review meeting on the arrangements being made for Sankranthi Sambaralu with the District Collector In-charge R Muthyala Raju and other senior officials at the R&B Guest House here on Friday, the Minister said that this amount was released to the Department of Culture, which in turn will release it to the districts. He suggested to the Collector to organise special competitions to the rural people at the gram panchayat level focusing on the rural sports like Kabaddi, Volley Ball, special competitions for women on food items, drawings and to organise competitions at the mandal-level as next step on 13th of this month.

The winners will participate in the district-level competitions for the coming Ugadi for prize distribution. He also suggested that wide publicity should be given to the events in the villages for public participation and to organise them as State festival to inculcate traditional values of Telugu culture.

The Finance Minister also reviewed the arrangements being made for the distribution of six food items to the poor in the name of Chandranna Sankranthi Kanuka in connection with the Sankranthi festival through fair price shops in the district. In this connection, he suggested that these materials should be handed over in a special bag designed for this purpose. He asked them to ensure proper distribution through village committees in the district and not to give any scope for irregularities. Display of boards at ration shops with the details of stock was also suggested. He instructed them to complete the distribution by 12th of this month to facilitate the poor for Samkranthi festival on 13th of this month.

While reviewing the Kakinada beach festival arrangements, the Minister said that special stalls on crops like rice, banana, coconut, palm-oil should also be arranged in the festival along with cattle show. Food stalls comprising traditional foods, tribal cultural troupes, forest produce were also suggested by him.

In this connection, District Collector In-charge R Muthyala Raju explained to the minister about the arrangements being made for the Kakinada Beach festival, Chandranna Sankranthi Kanuka and Sankranthi Sambaralu in the district.
Zilla Parishad chairperson N Rambabu, Pithapuram MLA SVSN Varma, DM Civil Supplies Kumar, Zilla Parishad CEO Padma and others were present.

Sankranthi festival begins
The Sankranthi festival began at the Ananda Bharathi Grounds here on Friday, where an official function on Sankranti was organised. The programmes during the festival include playing of folk arts of different forms like Gangireddulu, Kolatam, Budabukkalollu, Bommalkoluvu and Sannayi melam artistes. The State government has decided to organise Sankranti as state function. Floral decoration on the ground, competitions to women on food items, drawings, moving of two local artistes dressed up as Sir Arthur Cotton on a horse and Khadga Tikkana attracted the people. The performance of the artistes on various art forms also received public applause .Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said that festive mood of Sankranthi has picked up at Kakinada well in advance.

He further said that the State government decided to promote the culture and tradition of our State in this festival. Promotion of rural games, competitions for women on traditional foods and drawings were also planned in this festival.

Distribution of six types of essential commodities were also planned in the name of Chandranna Sankranthi Kanuka to BPL families with Rs 250 crore in the State to provide quality food to the poor on par with the rich for the ensuing Sankranthi festival.

Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister N Chinarajappa who also participated in this function said that 15.40 lakh poor families would benefit through this scheme which costs Rs 1.30 crore.

Kakinada MLA V Venkateswara Rao, who presided over the function, said that Sankranthi was planned in the city to inculcate the traditional values among people. Wearing of traditional dress by the city MLA and the Kakinada Municipal Commissioner attracted many people.

Kakinada MP Thota Narasimham, ZP Chairperson N Rambabu, Govt Whip KVV Satyanarayana Raju and others attended.