Amma Hastham programme held in Khammam, Adilabad

Khammam: Minister for Horticulture Ramreddy Venkat Reddy inaugurated the `Amma Hastham' programme at Thirumalayapalem (mandal headquarters) in the district on Tuesday. Under the scheme, a pack of nine essential commodities along with the subsidized rice would be given for Rs 185 to the white ration card holders. In open market, the commodities cost Rs 292. So, the ration card holders would benefit Rs 107 by purchasing the pack. Palm oil, tuwar dal, sugar, salt, chillis, turmeric and wheat would be given along with the rice in the pack, the Minister said.

The Minister said that the State Government had introduced the `Amma Hastham' scheme to provide food security to the down trodden people. The subsidized rice price was reduced from Rs 2 to Re 1 per kg only to help the poor.

Mr Venkat Reddy urged the people under the below poverty line (BPL) to apply for white ration cards to avail the benefits. The State Government had already allocated 20,000 Indiramma houses to Khammam district. In addition, 2,000 houses would be allocated to each Assembly constituency in the district.

With the SC, ST Sub-Plan funds, basic facilities at the colonies would be provided. The officials have to submit work proposals to the district officials before the month end and works would be commenced immediately after receiving the plans. Compensation would be paid to the farmers who had incurred losses due to crop damages, Venkat Reddy said.

Khammam Agriculture Market Committee chairman M Radhakishore, Joint Collector Surendra Mohan, RDO Sanjiva Reddy, District Supply Officer Y Sambasiva Rao, Social Welfare Deputy Director Lakshmi Devi, ICDS Project Director Sukhjivan Babu and other officials were present. Later, the Minister and District Collector Siddarth Jain and other officials had their lunch along with Dalits and Girijans numbering around 1,000 persons at the programme venue.

MLA stages dharna on dais Adilabad: BC Welfare Minister Baswarau Saraiah inaugurated 'Amma Hastham' programme at Indira Priyadarshini Stadium in the town on Tuesday. Along with the Minister, TRS MLA Jogu Ramanna also participated in the launching of the programme.

Soon after the programme was launched, MLA Jogu Ramanna staged dharna in front of the Minister on the dais alleging indulgence of officials in irregularities in the distribution of house site pattas under Indiramma Housing Scheme. Several TRS activists came onto the dais raising slogans in support of the MLA.

Mr. B Saraiah, who is also In-charge Minister for Adilabad district, tried to pacify the MLA and TRS activists. He asked the MLA to give him a written complaint specifying the irregularities and the officials. He also said that action would be taken against the erring officials. The Minister urged the MLA and his followers not to disturb the Amma Hastham programme which is being implemented for the welfare of the weaker sections. The leaders of various parties have to support the welfare scheme without politicizing it, he said.

However, the MLA and his followers did not heed to the request of the Minister. The District Collector A Ashok and Revenue Divisional Officers tried to convince the MLA to withdraw his protest. But their efforts did not bear fruit in pacifying the agitators. There were some tense moments at the programme for sometime as the agitators entered into an argument with the Minister.

Then police intervened and removed the TRS MLA and the activists from the venue.