Government committed to tribal welfare

Vijayawada: Minister for Social Welfare and Empowerment, Tribal Welfare and Empowerment Nakka Ananda Babu said aroma of coffee made by tribals through Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) was crossing borders of State. He launched two GCC products - Nannari tetrapack and Triphala sharbat here on Saturday.

Highlights:

• Minister Nakka Ananda Babu says 25 lakh tribals in the State are selling various products produced by them through GCC
• The turnover of GCC goes up from Rs 90 crore to Rs 247 crore

Speaking on the occasion, he said the government under the leadership of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was keen on giving a boost to GCC products. The Chief Minister made Araku Coffee popular by introducing it at all canteens at Secretariat. “The coffee’s popularity has already reached AP Bhavan in New Delhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also offered the same coffee during his visit,” he added.

Stating that 25 lakh tribals out of total 37-lakh tribal population, were getting benefits from sale of their products through GCC, the Minister informed that the GCC was purchasing various products produced by tribals and offering remunerative prices to them.

The turnover in last fiscal was Rs 247 crore against Rs 90 crore in the past. The government was keen to take the turnover to Rs 500 crore in the future. He pointed out that there is a good demand for GCC products in the market. The government is committed to share profits with tribals, he added. Managing director of GCC Ravi Prakash said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was promoting Araku Coffee in a big way.

Araku MLA Kilaru Sarweswara Rao, corporator Chennupati Gandhi, Special Commissioner (Tribal Welfare) Padma, Vigilance Officer Gouri Sankar and others were present.