Can Chandrababu Ever Understand The Pangs Of Farmers?  

Chinnarayudypeta, Vizianagaram district: As soon as I stepped out of the camp office to set out on my Padayatra, a group of little girls stood waiting outside with flowers to greet me.  I was filled with joy on seeing these children on a day which is earmarked for them, Children’s Day.

Today, my Padayatra moved mainly through Seetanagaram mandal.  Women belonging to Geddaluppi village told me about the excesses of Janmabhoomi committee members there. In these four and a half years, be it houses or pensions, the government has given very few of them, nominally. “Even for the three to four houses which are sanctioned, they are taking bribes of Rs.25,000 and Rs.5000 for pensions,” fumed these poor women.

Shanta Kumar, a Dalit youth of Dokishila village, is a victim of the high-handedness and deception of the Janmabhoomi Committee. He had applied for the post of an attender in the PHC under outsourcing. He was told that he would get the job only if he offered a bribe to the Janmabhoomi committee member and after borrowing Rs.1.50 lakhs at a steep interest, he gave it as bribe, but did not get the job as promised, because someone else had offered more money. He lamented that he lost the money he borrowed and the job he was promised. Once more it was established that these Janmabhoomi committees were set up by Chandrababu Naidu’s government only to loot people at the local level. After crossing Chinnabhogili, the Padayatra proceeded along the bridge on the river Suvarnamukhi. This 90 year-old bridge was in a dilapidated state and the riverbed was filled with craters due to excavation. It was a clear reflection of the indiscriminate sand mining— with digging taking place close to the foundation of the bridge itself, villagers expressed anguish that it posed a threat to the very structure of the bridge. The greed of the sand mafia was such that even graveyards by the riverside were not spared and are vanishing. Villagers of Chinnabhogili and Seetanagaram told me that there were no graveyards in their villages. I was shocked to learn of this.  What is worse is that though the minister from this district holds the relevant portfolio, he is helpless when it comes to checking the illegal activities of the sand mafia.

Also Read: Chandrababu’s Photo-Op Gimmicks Over New Ministers

Women farmers met me near the village of Appayyapeta.  They showed me withered paddy crop and wailed that “along with Chandrababu, came drought. There has been no rain and our crops have dried up completely. The irrigation water he promised has not reached our fields,“ they lamented. How can a ruler who thinks that agriculture is a wasteful activity understand the pangs of farmer?

In the afternoon, Simhachalam from Mettavalasa met me. He showed me an album which he compiled full of pictures starting from the time my father began his Padayatra. His genuine affection filled me with gratitude.

In the evening, and number of filariasis victims from Pedapenki village met me. They told me that there were more than 300 patients in their village alone. The small village did not have basic drainage facilities.  Government negligence was only leading to an increase in the number of mosquitos and filariasis cases, they said. While they were battling widespread incidence of this disease in a village with no basic sewerage or medical facilities, belt shops are sprouting everywhere, they pointed out.  Women told me that there were 22 belt shops in their village alone.

I have a question for the chief minister— diseases such as malaria, filariasis and dengue are spreading in epidemic proportions. What happened to your proposed war on mosquitoes?

Also Read: Chandrababu Lost Faith In AP Police: YSRCP