Turkha Kasha stone cutters in Siddipet village await basic housing

Around 100 families of the Turkha Kasha community in Aliyabad village of Siddipet district depend on stone cutting for livelihood. Despite government housing promises, many still live in huts. Community leaders seek better education, employment opportunities, and welfare support.

Hyderabad: Not far away from Hyderabad lies a sleepy village, Aliyabad, located in the Cherial mandal of Siddipet district, some 70 miles (112 kms) away. A home to around 100 families engaged in the stone cutting work for decades.

In official records, these Muslim families are recorded as ‘Turkha Kasha’, in Telugu States, Turkha refers to a Muslim belonging to the Turkish community and ‘ Kasha ‘ usually refers to stone cutters.

---

While the State government assured dignified housing for all the people in the State, around 30 families still live in primitive accommodations – the huts and sleep on the floor.

“We are staying like this for a long time. The government assured us of double-bedroom flats, but nothing happened. I had sold a gold ornament and given Rs 25,000 to an agent who assured me to get a 2BHK flat, so far there is no progress,” said Bibi, a local resident, whose husband is a stone cutter, while she goes to a local farm.

“Our earnings are meagre, and we cannot afford to construct even an asbestos roof house. We hope the government will someday come and help us,” said Fatima, another woman.

The Turkha Kasha community, for generations is into stone cutting work and no sincere efforts were made for its upliftment.

“There are over 50,000 families spread across 25 districts of Telangana. We got reservations under BC – E category. Unfortunately, only 10 individuals have got government jobs. A 360-degree effort should be made to overcome the educational backwardness and employment issues. Our community members are not have decent housing in several villages,” said Shaik Bade Sahab, president of Telangana Turkha Kasha Sankshema Sangham.

A few youngsters from the community managed to go abroad and work in Gulf countries as construction workers. “The sacrifice of leaving their families and going abroad did not help them overcome. We have loans to clear. Half of the Rs 15,000 to 18,000 monthly earnings in the Gulf is spent on food and accommodation, a few thousand that are transferred to India goes in buying some groceries and clearing loans,” said Hussain, a resident of Alipur village, around 20 kilometers from Aliyabad.

When contacted, Mohammed Obaidullah Kotwal, chairman, Telangana Minorities Finance Commission, said that the government rolled out a scheme to provide generators and tool kits to the stone cutters. “Around 3700 applications were received and we identified 2000 beneficiaries and will provide them assistance,” he said