Start Neera Production Unit Works: V Srinivas Goud

Telangana Excise Minister V Srinivas Goud today instructed the officials of the excise department to immediately start the works for the Neera (palm toddy) manufacturing unit to be set up at Nandanavanam in Yadadri Bhongir district, and initiate the tendering process for the same.

(Neera, a natural extract from the Indian date palm, is a popular drink in the state. The TRS government has been heavily involved in promoting and marketing the drink as something of a state drink for some time now, claiming that that would help the state's toddy tappers secure their livelihoods. However, many have rubbished this claim, and have asserted that it is a solely politically motivated move to appropriate an enduring cultural symbol of the state for political gains.)

Speaking at a review meeting on the matter, the minister also discussed the existing compensation practices for the state's toddy tappers, hailing largely from the Gouda community, who often sustain serious injuries or get permanently disabled during the tapping process.

He issued instructions to the officials to revise the guidelines and draw up a new simplified set of compensation regulations, and submit it to the government within a week.

The compensation practices are being modified to address the problem of delays in releasing ex gratia aid to the kin of the affected toddy tappers.

"There are numerous complaints from the kin of injured toddy tappers regarding the delays in receiving ex gratia aid from the government. To address this, we need to have a simple and easy process to offer timely financial support to the tappers' families, especially since most such households depend solely on the income generated from toddy production for survival," Goud said.

While at the meeting, the minister also addressed the officials' queries regarding the possibility of promotions and transfers within the excise department, and assured them that he would look into the matter.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar was also present the meeting.