High-level meet on weavers' issues to be held soon: CM

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today said a one-day high level meeting will be conducted soon in Hyderabad to discuss ways to improve the lot of weavers.

Addressing a gathering on the first day of his 'Indiramma Bata' (on the path shown by Indiramma) mass-contact programme in Prakasam district in coastal Andhra, Reddy said the government has waived weavers' loans to the tune of Rs 163 crore. Union Minister of State Textiles Panabaka Lakshmi would also take part in the proposed one-day meeting. The 'Indiramma Bata' is aimed at the Chief Minister and ministers directly interacting with different sections of people over the welfare and development programmes of the government. In an interaction with fishermen in the coastal district, Reddy assured that the government would ensure that the various coastal projects launched by the government would not hurt the interests of fishermen. Reddy, who participated in 'Sagara Meenotsavam' (fish festival), symbolically released some fishes and prawans into the sea to highlight the cause of marine biodiversity. The fishing activity in the state is resulting in produce worth Rs 11,000 crore, but the state government's expenditure for aqua culture had been only Rs 50 crore, he said adding that his government has increased the allocation to Rs 250 crore. He said Rs 25,000 crore worth fish production will be achieved within two years from the present Rs 11,000 crore.

- PTI