Unfulfilled 2019 Turmeric Board Promise in Nizamabad Constituency
Hyderabad, Oct-1-23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled significant developments for Telangana during an official event, where he laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple projects worth over Rs 13,500 crore. Addressing the audience, he made two pivotal announcements that will impact the state’s future.
First, he declared the establishment of the National Turmeric Board in Telangana. This initiative aims to provide professional support to the entire turmeric value chain, benefiting farmers at every stage, from production to infrastructure. Modi acknowledged the increasing global demand for turmeric, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic, which has raised awareness about the spice’s health benefits. This announcement comes after a long-standing demand and amid political discussions, as the BJP had faced criticism from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for not fulfilling its previous commitment regarding the Turmeric Board.
In 2019, BJP candidate D. Arvind, who won in the Nizamabad constituency, had pledged to establish the Turmeric Board within five days of winning the election. The BRS had criticized the BJP for not following through on this promise, and the Centre had informed the Parliament earlier this year that there was no proposal to establish a Turmeric Board or any other spice-specific board.
Additionally, Prime Minister Modi announced the establishment of a tribal university in Mulugu, which will be named after tribal deities Sammakka and Sarakka. The SammakkaSarakka Central Tribal University will receive an allocation of Rs 900 crore. This development fulfills one of the commitments made to Telangana in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014, addressing the persistent demands from the BRS and other stakeholders.
During the event, PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for various road projects within the Nagpur-Vijayawada economic corridor. He emphasized that this corridor would foster trade, tourism, and industry in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. The economic corridor includes special economic zones, mega food parks, seafood clusters, pharma and medical clusters, and a textile park. This initiative is expected to generate significant employment opportunities and promote value addition for farmers in the region.
Modi emphasized the importance of road and rail connectivity for landlocked states like Telangana, which need efficient transport infrastructure to facilitate exports through sea ports. He noted that several corridors are passing through Telangana, connecting the east and west coasts, and highlighted the role of the Khammam-Suryapet section of the Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam corridor in reducing logistic costs for businesses and industries.
