Education, Health Top Priorities Of YSRCP: YS Jagan

Srikakulam:Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a scathing attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu for abandoning the Vamsadhara project for nine years. Addressing a massive gathering in Meliyaputti in Srikakulam district, he recalled that late CM Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy was instrumental in ensuring that 90% of the works on the project were completed with Rs 700 crore budget.

While only Rs 55 crore worth works were remaining in 2014, Chandrababu revised the project cost from Rs 55 crore to Rs 476 crore. TDP MP CM Ramesh's Rithwik Projects was assigned the contract for the remaining works in Vamsadhara.
"Yet, no progress was made in the works, the locals said."

Despite a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing the construction of Neredu barrage, Chandrababu failed to take up the action."I promise to complete all the pending projects including the Vamsadhara project. I promise to stand by the victims of the Vamsadhara project land acquistion and the D-patta land holders, YS Jagan said to the crowd.

Speaking on the off-shore reservoir project launched by Dr YSR with Rs 127 crore budget, he said the late leader completed 40% works in his tenure. Now, Chandrababu is only bothered with ensuring that his benamis benefit in the project works.
The drinking water scheme launched by Dr YSR in the region to cater to 18,000 residents was scrapped by the TDP government. Meliyaputti mandal received no drinking water during the drought, he added.

"In the local government hospital, there is a dearth of doctors for specializations--gynaecologist and dentist. There are no beds in Kolluru Community Health Centre, locals said to me," he reiterated.

The Janma Bhoomi committees have been demanding money for allotting houses and building toilets. Chandrababu released just Rs 520 crore while the damage evaluated in the Titli cyclone was Rs 3,400 crore. In this constituency, Kothuru, Hiramandalam and Miliyakutti mandals have suffered huge crop loss. Yet, they were not included in the flood-affected areas.

Across five mandals in the region, 75,000 acres were affected while only 53,000 acres were recognised. In tribal villages, for 5,000 houses roofs, were damaged in cyclone Titli. Despite failing to cater to the needs of the victims, the Chandrababu government showcased fake cheques for cyclone victims.

Fake cheques have been in circulation in the aftermath of the cyclone, he said reading out anonymous names  of those who were said to have been awarded the compensation. YS Jagan said the locals who were affected by cyclone Titli were still awaiting compensation. Yet, Chandrababu promoted himself as the saviour of the cyclone affected areas in advertisements and through his yellow media.
The YSRCP chief explained that a deficit rainfall of 38% was recorded in the State since June this year. As many as 6-7 lakh acres were damaged in the aftermath of cyclone Phethai. But, Chandrababu did not address any of the farmer issues or cyclone relief measures in the cabinet meeting, he said.

Farmers of rice crop in Srikakulam are suffering from distress, yet,the local farmers do not have access to market centres. The reason being Chandrababu's Heritage company purchases crops for less price from farmers and sells its products for 3-4 times the price, YS Jagan said.

Recalling Chandrababu's promise of 'Job Ravalante Babu Ravali', YS Jagan asked the mammoth gathering if any of the youth got employment 55 months since the promise was made. Did any of the youth receive the Rs 2,000 unemployment allowance as promised by Chandrababu? With six months to go for the elections, Chandrababu began a new drama with Rs 1,000 allowance to a small number of beneficiaries.

No stone has been unturned in the Polavaram project, for which a DPR is yet to be prepared. However, Chandrababu boasted as if he is building the project at jet speed, when he built just one gate.

Stressing on the need for providing 100% fees reimbursement, YS Jagan said Chandrababu completely abandoned the students. He said lack of healthcare facilities was a major reason why the vulnerable sections are pushed into poverty. In the name of network hospitals, the Aarogyasri scheme is being scrapped, he added.

The YSRCP chief said the ration supplies were reduced to just rice whereas rice, kerosene, dal, palm oil, wheat flour, wheat, salt, sugar, tamarind, chilli powder and turmeric were given during Rajanna Rajyam. Recalling Chandrababu's promise of placing a ban on liquor sale, he said every street in the State had a liquor shop.
"In 2015, when Congress president Rahul Gandhi visited Anantapur, Chandrababu attacked the Congress for deciding to bifurcate the State. Now, after four years of romance with BJP, Chandrababu is forging an alliance with the Congress," he said.

Quoting Dr YSR's saying that education and healthcare are the two major reasons for poverty, YS Jagan shed some light on the bad state of the Aarogyasri schemes. He said critical surgeries like dialysis and hearing loss were covered in the scheme during Dr YSR's rule.

All medical expenses above Rs 1,000 would be covered in the Aarogyasri scheme after YSRCP comes to power. Post-surgery expenses as long as the ailment is cured would also be given to the patients under the Navaratnas, he said.

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