TPCC president, Chief Minister differ over traditional occupations

A rift has surfaced in Telangana Congress as CM Revanth Reddy rejects promotion of traditional occupations, while TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud stresses their protection, exposing contradictions in the party’s welfare promises.

Hyderabad: The contradiction between TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy over encouragement of traditional occupations is reflecting the Congress government’s “commitment” towards Backward Classes and other communities.

After criticising the previous government for supporting traditional livelihoods and ensuring financial empowerment of various communities, the Congress party had promised a host of benefits in its Assembly election manifesto.

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Under Backward Classes welfare, the Congress had pledged adequate funds for Mudiraj, Yadava, Kuruma, Munnuru Kapu, Vaddera and other corporations. In addition, Yadava and Kuruma families were promised Rs.2 lakh assistance through Direct Benefit Transfer for sheep and goat rearing.

However, in sharp contrast to these assurances, the Chief Minister has repeatedly spoken against encouraging traditional occupations.

Addressing students at Osmania University on Monday, Revanth Reddy said the previous government had ensured that Golla Kurumas stuck to shepherding, toddy tappers survived by selling toddy, cobblers depended on their trade, and Mudirajs confined themselves to fishing.

“I am against this policy. I want my brothers and sisters to become doctors, lawyers and engineers. If Telangana has to become a one trillion USD economy, then these communities should educate their wards. Education will change destiny,” he asserted.

In open contradiction, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud has consistently stressed the need to protect and promote traditional occupations in the State.

Speaking at Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud’s birth anniversary at Ravindra Bharathi, he recalled his recent trip to France, where a Microsoft vice president told him that despite his corporate role, he continued practising carpentry, his family’s traditional occupation.

“After going home, the Microsoft vice president in France is continuing his traditional occupation of carpentry,” Mahesh Kumar Goud said, stressing that the Telangana government should ensure traditional professions were not neglected and the present generation was encouraged to pursue them.

Similarly, at a meeting in Khammam in June this year, he urged communities to take pride in their origins and respect other castes, while adapting modern technology to strengthen traditional livelihoods.