Powerloom weavers agitate for food security cards

Sircilla (Karimnagar): Powerloom weavers under the banner of Communist Party of India (CPI) staged a dharna in front of the Tahsildar’s office here on Friday demanding food security cards. Earlier, they organised a rally from the CPI office to Tahsildar office. After staging a dharna, the powerloom weavers submitted a memorandum to the officials.

CPI leader Dasaradham alleged that powerloom weavers used to get 35 kilos of rice per month on white ration cards. “Now, the officials have removed the names of powerloom weavers from the list of food security cards after conducting household survey,” he added.

The CPI leader stated that IT Minister and local MLA K Taraka Rama Rao has assured powerloom weavers that the Antyodaya cards given to them would not be scrapped. “The Minister warned that he would take action if any official suspends Antyodaya cards of powerloom weavers,” he recalled.

Dasaradham expressed anguish that officials have invalidated the Antyodaya cards even after the Minister had warned them.

He demanded that the Minister should provide food security cards to the eligible powerloom weavers immediately and take action against the erring officials, who conducted survey recklessly and eliminated Antyodaya cards.