Date:09/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/09/stories/2007080954000300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Plea to close belt shops by Oct. 2

Correspondent

VIZIANAGARAM: State Bharatiya Janta Mahila Morcha president T. Vijayalakshmi has said that the Congress government has failed to fulfil the promises it made to women, particularly regarding implementation of total prohibition in phases.

At a press conference here on Wednesday, Ms. Vijayalakshmi said many families were affected by mushrooming belt shops. She urged the government to close them by October 2 and threatened to launch a State-wide agitation with the support of the Left and Lok Satta parties.

Referring to the ‘pavala vaddi’ scheme, she said banks had been collecting interest at the rate of 75 paise on remittances made after 10th of every month.

She sought constitution of mandal-wise service providers and appointment of nodal officers for each such provider.