KTR sanctions Rs 1 crore to rural innovator

Telangana IT and Industries Minister K T Rama Rao here today handed over a sanction letter of Rs one crore grant to rural innovator, and Padma Shri awardee Chintakindi Mallesham.
Chintakindi Mallesham was given the Padma Shri award earlier this year for developing the "Laxmi Asu machine", for winding of yarn mechanically required for weaving a 'Pochamapally' sari.
The machine reduces the manual 'asu' making work of almost six hours to one and half hours.
According to an official release, KTR had earlier promised assistance from the state government when he had felicitated Mallesham on being awarded Padma Shri.
"Today, the minister had handed over the sanction letter of Rs one crore grant to Mallesham. This grant would be used to procure land, build shed and manufacture 'Laxmi Asu' machines. The machines produced by Mallesham would greatly help ramp up production of Pochampally weavers," it said.

KTR said the state government would take all steps to ensure rural innovators like Mallesham are promoted.
He said Mallesham's services would be used to mentor the next generation of innovators using institutions such as 'T-Works', according to the release.
Mallesham had spent about eight years to develop the "Laxmi Asu Machine", it added.