Hyderabad: The government’s scheme to distribute over one crore saris free for women for the Bathukamma festival was marred by protests on Monday. The polyester saris procured from Surat failed to impress women who were expecting handloom saris.

At several places, women refused to take the saris saying they were of poor quality and in some places, the saris were burnt in protest. At Jagtial and in some places in Nalgonda, Suryapet and Yadadri districts, women played Bathukamma around the burning saris.

We expected good quality saris: Women
The government’s scheme to distribute over one crore saris free for women for the Bathukamma festival was marred by protests on Monday.

Some women in Adilabad told this reporter that they had lost a day’s wage of `250 waiting in the queue for the sari which they said was worth just `50.

In Hyderabad, there was much jostling for the saris at many places and quarrels broke out and the police had to step in.

Trouble started in Saidabad when a large number of women thronged counters to obtain the free saris. Reports of a shortage complicated the situation further.

One woman said they had expected good quality saris worth at least `500. It was publicised that Sircilla handloom saris would be distributed. She said that the polyester saris manufactured in Surat are sold in bulk at a cheaper price and could be bought locally for Rs 100. In Warangal, women refused to take the saris citing poor quality.