Eatala Rajender assures support to Medari Sangham at state executive meeting

Hyderabad: BJP MP Eatala Rajender reaffirmed his support for the Medari Sangham and said he would continue to stand by traditional artisan communities while addressing the state executive meeting of the association at Vanjari Function Hall in Uppal Bagayat.

Eatala said he has shared a close association with the profession, its leaders and the organisation for the past 25 years. Recalling his early days as an MLA, he said community leaders had raised issues concerning the Mahendra Sangham during a meeting in Dharmapuri.

He said the Medari community once played a vital role in supplying essential agricultural goods such as salt, jaggery and lime. However, the widespread use of plastic has gradually reduced demand for the traditional occupation, putting the livelihood of artisans at risk.

Eatala Rajender Medari Sangham highlights BC welfare

Eatala urged the government to provide opportunities for community associations to cultivate salt in forest areas and prioritise the Mahendra Sangham in the sale of salt before allocating it for other purposes. He said governments have largely focused on larger communities while smaller castes have received limited attention.

The BJP leader recalled that discussions were held with representatives of 78 backward class communities over 40 days to address their issues. He said those deliberations were later taken up in the Assembly and followed by consultations with MPs, MLAs and ministers, leading to measures for the welfare of backward classes, including the establishment of 250 BC Residential Schools.

Eatala said the objective behind BC Residential Schools was to provide free quality education to poor children and enable them to become self-reliant. He also recalled that land ranging from one to five acres and financial assistance of ₹5 crore each were sanctioned for the construction of buildings for 78 BC community associations.

He said one acre of land had also been allotted to the Mahendra Sangham, although the funds sanctioned at the time had lapsed. To protect the land, he said ₹15 lakh was recently provided for the construction of a compound wall. He added that ₹10 lakh was also sanctioned for the Mahendra Sangham in Medchal.

Concluding his address, Eatala said the Medari community has upheld its self-respect despite being a small community and assured members that he would continue supporting them in the years ahead.