Bathukamma celebrated in UK with great fanfare
The Hindu
Festivities dedicated to COVID warriors
Telangana Association of United Kingdom (TAUK) held grand celebrations of Chenetha Bathukamma and Dasara in London and dedicated the celebrations to the National Health Service (NHS) staff and COVID-19 warriors.
The celebrations were attended by Indians across UK apart from British MPs Virendra Sharma and Seema Malhotra along with Houslow Mayor Bishnu Gurung. TAUK vice-president Shusmuna Reddy said the event was also dedicated as Chenetha Bathukamma and Dasara to get wider support for handlooms in tune with Telangana IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao’s idea.
More than 2.6 lakh village and ward volunteers in Andhra Pradesh, once celebrated as the government’s grassroots champions for their crucial role in implementing welfare schemes, are now in a dilemma after learning that their tenure has not been renewed after August 2023 even though they have been paid honoraria till June 2024. Disowned by both YSRCP, which was in power when they were appointed, and the current ruling TDP, which made a poll promise to double their pay, these former volunteers are ruing the day they signed up for the role which they don’t know if even still exists