Telangana govt hikes toddy tappers' pension to Rs.1,000

Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday enhanced their pension from Rs.200 to Rs.1,000 a month and waived tax on palm trees. Showering more sops, Chandrasekhar Rao said renewal of licence of toddy societies had been increased to 10 years from existing five years. He also granted five acre land and Rs.5 crore for Gouda Bhavan in Hyderabad.

Making a statement in the Assembly on Thursday, the CM said that only members of toddy tappers’ co-operative societies (TCS) have been getting pension till now. “We have decided to extend pension to members of tree for tappers (TFT) scheme also. This will



benefit 30,000 families of Gouda community,” he said and added that instructions have been issued to complete the process of converting TFT into TCS within 10 days from receipt of such applications.

He said Goudas eke out a living from their traditional occupation. “The toddy tappers were neglected in the undivided state and the existence of toddy profession itself has become questionable,” the CM said and said that his government opened toddy shops in Hyderabad after it came to power. Tax on trees is being waived though the government is set to lose Rs.16 crore revenue a year.