CityLightBuzz: Hyderabad , Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy unveiled the statue of Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud at Tank Bund in Hyderabad and paid floral tributes to the legendary warrior. The programme was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Ponnam Prabhakar, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Seethakka and Adluri Laxman Kumar, MLCs, TPCC President B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, public representatives and senior officials.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy reiterated that his government is committed to the welfare and protection of the traditional professions of weavers and toddy tappers. He said pensions would be provided to all eligible weavers and weaver workers at saturation level, irrespective of the number of beneficiaries.
Pensions for Eligible Weavers
The Chief Minister said the government would take responsibility for protecting the weaving profession and has instructed officials to ensure that every eligible weaver and weaver worker receives pension benefits.
He also highlighted various welfare measures for the Goud community, stating that 50,000 Kattamayi kits have already been distributed. He added that the government is providing ₹5 lakh compensation in the event of accidental deaths of Goud community members covered under the scheme.
Steps to Protect Traditional Professions
Revanth Reddy directed Water Resources Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy to take necessary measures to plant banyan and palmyra trees near canal gates of irrigation projects as part of efforts to support and protect the traditional toddy-tapping profession.
The Chief Minister also announced that the Telangana government would officially celebrate the birth anniversary of Panduga Sayanna on October 22. He described Panduga Sayanna as a courageous warrior who fought against landlords and the wealthy and said his struggle and valour are remembered across the four districts of the erstwhile Palamuru region.
Papanna Goud’s Legacy to Inspire Telangana
Explaining the decision to install Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud’s statue at Tank Bund, Revanth Reddy said members of the weaver and Goud communities had been demanding a prominent statue of Papanna Goud for a long time.
He said he personally inspected the Necklace Road junction and selected locations for statues of
Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud and Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule.
The Chief Minister said the Tourism Department office at Tank Bund was relocated to another location to make space for Papanna Goud’s statue. He said the location was selected so that the statue would inspire tourists visiting Hyderabad as well as people travelling along Tank Bund.
“Papanna Goud Belongs to the Bahujans”
Revanth Reddy said Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud should not be viewed as belonging to any single caste or family, describing him as a great leader who emerged from the Bahujan communities.
He recalled Papanna Goud’s struggle against oppression and his association with the history of Golconda Fort, saying his revolutionary spirit should continue to inspire generations of Telangana.The Chief Minister said his government was committed to social justice and that Telangana’s Bahujan communities would give the same importance to Papanna Goud’s statue as Maharashtra gives to the statue and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
“Educate Your Children”
Revanth Reddy appealed to members of traditional communities to respect and continue their ancestral professions while giving the highest priority to education.
“Continue your traditional profession and respect it, but educate your children,” he said, stressing that education is the key to changing the future of the next generation.
He assured that the government would allocate necessary funds for students and provide quality education along with nutritious food. He highlighted initiatives such as fine-rice meals in government schools, nutritious snacks, milk and ragi java for children.
The Chief Minister also said the government is providing a ₹2,000 monthly stipend to students joining ITCs.
Government Committed to Social Justice
Revanth Reddy said the state government is working towards strengthening social justice through various initiatives, including the BC caste census and SC sub-categorisation. He said the government would continue implementing welfare and development programmes aimed at empowering weaker sections and creating better opportunities for the younger generation.
The unveiling of Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud’s statue at Tank Bund marks a significant recognition of the legendary warrior’s contribution and his enduring legacy in Telangana’s social and political history
