Latest news with #S.Savitha
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Dharmavaram silk sari of A.P. bags ODOP National Award
The famed Dharmavaram silk sari of Sri Sathya Sai district has bagged the 'One District One Product (ODOP) – 2024 National Award' in recognition of the State's achievements in the traditional handloom sector. The award instituted by the Centre's initiative to promote indigenous artisans and their products was conferred in New Delhi on Monday. State Minister for Handlooms and Textiles S. Savitha and Sri Sathya Sai District Collector T.S. Chetan received the award from Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Piyush Goyal at an event held at Bharat Mandapam. Minister Savitha felt that the award highlighted the artistic excellence of the handloom sector in Andhra Pradesh and further enhanced the global visibility of Indian culture. 'It is a moment of pride for Andhra Pradesh and will further strengthen the cottage industries and livelihoods of the artisans,' she said. Mr. Chetan termed the recognition as 'a milestone for weavers of Sathya Sai district'. The gesture would greatly help the artisans of Dharmavaram and create greater market and employment avenues, he said.
The Hindu
13-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Minister hails A.P. for winning 10 ODOP awards
Minister for Backward Classes Welfare and Textiles S. Savitha, on Sunday, hailed Andhra Pradesh for securing as many as 10 national awards under the 'One District–One Product' (ODOP) initiative. While seven of the 10 were in recognition of the handlooms and handicraft products, two were in the agriculture sector, and one in the inter-State category. Speaking at a press conference here, the Minister attributed the achievement to the constant support from the coalition government. The products that won the awards included Bobbili veena (Vizianagaram), Etikoppaka toys (Anakapalli), Peddapuram and Chirala silk saris (Kakinada and Bapatla), Venkatagiri saris (Tirupati), Narsapur lace (West Godavari), and Dharmavaram silk saris (Sri Sathya Sai). The Guntur chilli and Srikakulam cashew nuts also bagged awards, the Ms. Savitha said. She said that the awards ceremony will be held in New Delhi on July 14 (Monday), and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will present the honours. District Collectors and senior artisans from the respective districts will be attending the event. Ms. Savitha further announced the rollout of the free power scheme for weavers, with effect from August 7. This initiative will provide 200 units of power for loom owners and 500 units for pit loom operators. The disbursement of the benefits to the thrift societies will also be held on the same day. 'The State government has plans to bring other unique products such as Kadapa banana, Chittoor tomato, and Anantapur groundnut under ODOP initiative,' the Minister added.
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Yogandhra campaign reflects State's vision of a healthier A.P., says Minister
Highlighting the efficacy of yoga in everyday life, Minister for Backward Classes Welfare S. Savitha, on Monday (June 16) observed that yoga is essential for every individual as it remains central to the State's vision of a healthier Andhra Pradesh. The Minister was addressing the participants at the 'Yogandhra 2025' campaign event organized on the sprawling campus of KIA Motors at Penukonda of Sri Sathya Sai district. Ms. Savitha inaugurated the event by lighting the ceremonial lamp. 'Yoga plays a vital role in combating the adverse effects of pollution, stress, and sedentary lifestyles. Regular practice of Yoga even for half-an-hour a day can significantly improve both physical and mental well-being,' the Minister said. Hailing Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as a role model, Minister Savitha said that his daily yoga practice contributed to his vitality and sharp governance at the age of 75. She said that the State government has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the International Yoga Day celebrations scheduled in Visakhapatnam on June 21. District Collector T.S. Chetan appealed to the people to make yoga a part of their routine, saying that it would definitely bring immunity, mental clarity, and emotional stability to those who practice it daily. The yoga session on the KIA Motors campus witnessed a throng of over 1500 participants, including officials and field staff from various government departments, staff of KIA Motors, students from various government and private educational institutions, and local leaders. The Collector said that Yoga sessions had been conducted at popular spiritual and heritage sites across the district as part of the month-long celebrations.
The Print
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Print
How politics spilled over into business as Kitex vs LDF govt in Kerala enters 2nd round
Cut to now, Kerala is at the top of the Ease of Doing Business rankings, and hosted a major investors' summit earlier this year. Against this backdrop, a high-profile visit by Andhra Pradesh Minister for Handlooms and Textiles S. Savitha to Kitex's Kochi headquarters has reignited the long-running debate over the firm's expansion outside Kerala. Jacob said at the time that Kitex had been 'forced to move out of the state'. Thiruvananthapuram: In 2021, as Kerala government was championing its ambition to turn the southern state into a top investment hub, one of the state's largest employers accused the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) of driving businesses away. Kitex Garments' managing director Sabu M. Jacob alleged the state was 'hounding' enterprises through relentless factory inspections. Kerala would soon become a 'graveyard of industries,' he declared and announced plans to shift Rs 3,500 crore worth of investments to Telangana. Talking to ThePrint, Sabu said talks with the Andhra Pradesh government are in the initial phase, and that he would take a call on any fresh investment in the state after meeting CM Chandrababu Naidu. His remarks came a day after Kerala Industries Minister P. Rajeev said Sabu's remarks should be seen in a political light, since he is a businessman-turned-politician. Those talking about ease of doing business in Kerala will have to answer to the state's youth at a time when many firms are coming to invest in Kerala, the minister told the media Sunday. Sabu is also the chief of the corporate-backed Twenty 20 party, which is in power in four local bodies in the state's Ernakulam district. While he denied any personal friction with the Kerala government, Sabu did express frustration at what he saw as political posturing by the state leadership. 'By birth, they have only seen to ruin others' hard work. Can a businessman not be a politician? I haven't talked about politics or my party regarding this. The party will go in that line.' His renewed criticism of the state also comes amid the ruling LDF's aggressive promotion of Kerala as an investment destination ahead of Assembly polls next year. The state organised a two-day Invest Kerala Global Summit in Kochi this February, which drew Expressions of Interest (EoIs) worth Rs 1.52 lakh crore from 374 companies. The government also conducted over 40 sector-specific conclaves in the run-up to the summit. Kerala-based political analyst Joseph C. Mathew told ThePrint, 'If Sabu hadn't started the political party, he would not have been in this situation. However, now both the parties also act like they don't need each other.' Also Read: Tharoor-Congress feud sparks buzz in his Thiruvananthapuram constituency, unease in party unit Kitex's plans & Twenty 20 party Founded by M.C. Jacob in 1968 in Ernakulam district's Kizhakkambalam, Anna-Kitex Group, popularly known as Kitex, primarily manufactures garments and aluminium products. According to one report by Economic Times Markets, Kitex saw a steady increase in its revenue in the last three years, with total revenue in FY 2025 being Rs 1,001.35 crore, up from Rs 631.17 crore the previous financial year. In FY 2025, the company with a market cap of Rs 5,608.94 crore booked a profit after tax of Rs 138.73 crore—marking a growth of 146.28 percent compared to the previous fiscal year. Kitex is also one of the largest private-sector employers in Kerala, led by a Malayalee, alongside the Muthoot Group (more than 40,000 employees) and Malabar Group (25,000 employees). Other large employers include US-based tech giant UST Global, which has its India headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, the company's largest development centre, and together with its Kochi campus, employs over 10,000 people in Kerala. While Kitex is indeed expanding in Telangana, its headquarters remains in Kochi, and it continues operations in Kerala. Sabu said the firm plans to set up two units in Telangana, one in Warangal and the other in Hyderabad. The Warangal unit began operations in April, and the Hyderabad unit is expected to open in December 2026. 'By September–December, we expect to have about 12,000–14,000 employees in Warangal. In total, these two units will employ around 50,000 people,' he said. In Kerala, Sabu claimed the firm employs about 16,000 workers, of which the majority consists of interstate migrants. An official from Kerala's Directorate Of Industries & Commerce told ThePrint on condition of anonymity that despite making allegations, the firm still continues to operate in the state. 'They have been saying that they would leave. But they are still here, aren't they?' Founded in 1992, Kitex Group launched its CSR wing Twenty 20 in 2013 with the aim of transforming Kizhakkambalam—a village on the outskirts of Kochi where the company is headquartered—into a model village. It later transformed itself into a political party and contested the 2015 Kerala local body polls, winning control of Kizhakkambalam panchayat. It then expanded to four local bodies in Ernakulam district in the 2020 local body polls. Though the party doesn't propagate a particular political ideology, it engages with the public through welfare initiatives such as subsidised supermarkets, improved water and electricity supply, among others. In the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections, Twenty 20 contested eight constituencies in Ernakulam district, though unsuccessfully. Its candidate in Kunnathunad garnered a little more than 42,000 votes, finishing third behind the CPI(M)'s winning candidate P.V. Sreenijin and Congress's V.P. Sajendran. What Kerala minister said During his interaction with the media Sunday, minister Rajeev had said many entrepreneurs, including Bharat Biotech's Krishna Ella, have openly praised Kerala as an investor-friendly state. He added that the government is making dedicated efforts to create opportunities that will encourage the youth to remain and thrive in Kerala. 'You should consider that the businessman is also the president of a political party. If you want to understand the opinion of businessmen, you should speak to businessmen. Since he is also a politician, he naturally has political interests too,' he said, referring to Sabu. He also highlighted that Kerala's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows more than doubled over the past year, an achievement he argued would not be possible if the state were not seen as investor-friendly. According to data from DPIIT, Kerala's FDI surged to Rs 3,300 crore in the previous fiscal year, up from Rs 1,633.42 crore the year before. The state ranked ninth in FDI inflows nationally, with Maharashtra retaining the top spot with Rs 12,000 crore. (Edited by Amrtansh Arora) Also Read: Nilambur bypoll: How Anvar, once Kerala's richest MLA, is adding twist to crucial LDF-UDF contest
New Indian Express
04-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
‘Artisans will be made entrepreneurs'
VIJAYAWADA: Minister for BC Welfare S. Savitha on Tuesday said the government aims to transition traditional artisans, craftsmen, and other occupational groups into traders and entrepreneurs. As part of this initiative, modern equipment is being provided under the Adarana Scheme. The Minister held a review meeting with all Executive Directors (EDs) to assess the progress of the free sewing machine training programme for women. She noted that the government is offering this training to empower women economically and instructed EDs to visit training centres regularly to monitor implementation. Highlighting the Adarana Scheme, the Minister said the government is committed to providing modern tools, gadgets, and equipment to members of backward classes engaged in traditional occupations. 'This initiative is designed to help artisans evolve into successful businesspeople,' she said. The Minister also directed EDs to submit a detailed report on modern tools and equipment preferred by artisans to enhance their trade. BC Welfare Secretary Satya Narayana, Director Mallikarjuna, and other officials were present at the meeting.
