No Welfare Scheme Is Associated With Chandrababu In Public Mind 

Palakonda, Srikakulam district: I began my Padayatra this morning after paying homage to one of the greatest social reformers our country has known, a great visionary who endeavoured to uplift the downtrodden, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, on his death anniversary. There was a festive air in every village I walked through as people welcomed me with traditional dances and walked alongside singing and swaying. Women farm workers sang a song “Vennela Vennela” which was very pleasing, in particular. Polamma, an 80 year-old, walked along with me and started to dance, much to my delight. Members of tribal communities who came from their villages, brought along with them pineapples from the Seethammapeta area, renowned for this produce.

Cyclone Titli victims lamented that they had not been given compensation or relief of any kind and that even where it was given, it was curtailed. Discrimination was rampant in providing relief, they complained. AgriGold victims met me and poured out their woes to me. They said that without giving them their due, bigwigs in the government tried to plunder the assets of the company.

Teachers from tribal residential schools complained that they have been betrayed by Chandrababu Naidu who promised to provide them with secure employment. Employees of Velugu said that they were promised regularisation of their jobs in the election manifesto of TDP and felt cheated by the government.

The state of 108 services was a clear reflection of total failure on the part of the government in all areas and explained why people were losing confidence in government healthcare system. Employees of the service told me that Chandrababu Naidu resorted to privatisation of 108 simply because in public memory, it was deeply associated with Dr YSR. Chandrababu Naidu will privatise the entire public healthcare system if he continues, they feared.

The public hospital at Palakonda was nothing short of hell, women from this area told me. Admissions into maternity ward also required bribes and there was no medical care worth the name, people from this region pointed out. They said that all cases were referred to others by the doctors here. The hospital, which is meant to cater to 13 mandals, functions on a referral system with doctors constantly referring patients and not treating them. If a major hospital meant to serve tribal villages and the poorest sections of society, operated in this manner, is it excusable? How can people be left to fend for themselves without ambulance services?

During the course of my Padayatra this afternoon, I saw water leaking from a pipeline and shooting forth in a jet, like a fountain. People told me that this was the case in many places for several days and that no one tried to plug the leaks at any point.

People here were forced to drink contaminated water which led to the spread of disease, they said. Nilapu Giridevi and Chandrakala from NK Rajapuram lost their lives due to contaminated water, they recalled sorrowfully. Palakonda holds a mirror up to the misrule of Chandrababu. What is happening to the taxes which are being collected from the people here and for which they are forced to pay through their nose? Whose pockets are being lined with this money, because clearly it is not being spent on providing facilities of any kind here.

I have a question for the chief minister—108 is closely associated in public memory with Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy. This is also the case with Arogyasri and fee reimbursement. There are many such schemes which will go on across generations synonymous with the name of Dr YSR. Is there one welfare scheme which is associated with you in popular mind?