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Brief Bio-data
Member of Rajya Sabha

PRAGADA KOTAIAH, SHRI:

S.S.L.C.; Congress (I) (Andhra Pradesh); son of Shri Veerabhadrudu Pragada and Shrimati Kotamma; born : at Nidubrolu, Guntur Distt., July 26, 1915; educated at (i) Board High School, Nidubrolu, (ii) Govt. Textile Institute, Madras and (iii) City and Guilds Institute, London; married to : Shrimati Indira Devi, 1932; 1 son and 6 daughter

Handloom weaver and agriculturist; associated with Handloom Weavers, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, fishermen and other weaker sections; participated in several conferences, seminars and workshops relating to textiles including handlooms; organised Satyagraha of Handloom Weavers at Madras, Repalle, Tenali etc.; courted arrest and went to jail; Founder, (i) Primary Weavers' Co-operatives and Cooperative Spinning Mills, (ii) K.S. Junior College, Ponnur, (iii) S.U.S. ITI, Vetapalem and (iv) Andhra Kesari Prakasam Junior College; Founder Chairman, (i) Chirala Co- operative Spinning Mills and (ii) Andhra (State) Fisheries Co-operative Society Ltd.; Vice-Chairman, All India Federation of Co-operative Spinning Mills Ltd., Bombay; President and Vice-President of the National Federation of Industrial Co-operatives Ltd., New Delhi; General Secretary, (i) Madras Provincial Handloom Weavers' Association, (ii) Andhra Pradesh Handloom Weavers' Congress, (iii) All India Handloom Weavers' Congress and (iv) Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee; Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Congress Legislature Party; Member, (i) Madras, Andhra and Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assemblies 1952--62, 1967--72, (ii) Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council, 1974 80, (iii) Backward Classes Legislative Committee, (iv) Public Accounts Committee of the Andhra Pradesh Legislature, (v) Handloom Advisory Boards of Madras and Andhra Pradesh, (vi) Andhra Pradesh Handloom (Enquiry) Committee, (vii) All India Handloom Board, (viii) All India Handloom and Handicrafts Board, (ix) Standing Committee of the All India Cottage Industries Board, (x) Committee for fixing varieties of cloth for exclusive production on handlooms, 1950, (xi) Central Council on Textile Industry, (xii) Andhra Pradesh State Drainage Development Board, (xiii) District Drainage and Irrigation Development Boards, (xiv) Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party, (xv) Andhra Pradesh Backward Classes Association, (xvi) State Defence Council at the time of Chinese Aggression and (xvii) Committee on Commerce; elected to the Rajya Sabha in April, 1990.

Travels abroad: U.S.A., Canada and U.K.

Publications: Booklet "Self Employment Solves Unemployment", "Whither Handlooms" and "Throttling Handloom Industry"--Pamphelts on problems of Handloom Industry.

Special interest: Interested in self-employed people including handloom weavers and craftsmen.

Favourite pastime and recreation: Reading journals and service to weaker sections.

Permanent address: Nidubrolu (PO), Guntur (Distt.), Andhra Pradesh--522124.