Weakened Arogya Sri: Tales Of Woe

The Chandrababu Government has watered down the Arogya Sri scheme, that provided succour to the poor in need of medical help. Contrary to the its claims that the re-christened health scheme was better than that during YSR's regime, several people are complaining about the scheme's tardy implementation. Here are first person accounts from four persons, who poured out their tales of woes to YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at Ongole on Friday.

My daughter's kidney has been damaged. I have so far spent Rs 8 lakh and I am unable to bear the expenditure. My Arogya Sri application was rejected as my daughter's creatinin levels are low. I am a post-gradulate and a teacher. Please help save my daughtet

- Paparao, Jammalapalem

I have an ulcer in by large intestine. I was not given treatment under Arogya Sri and the government hospital has refused to perform a surgery. So, I had to get operated upon in a private hospital coughing up Rs 3 lakh. To repay the loan, my son had to stop his education and take to daily wage work.

Sujatha, Kondepi

I want to the hospital a week ago for a surgery. The hospital authorities told me that Arogya Sri is not functional. They asked me to pay up for surgery.

Venkateswarlu

I suffered a fracture after falling down from an autorickshaw. The doctors at the government hospital in Podili said there was a fracture. But, at RIMS hospital, the doctors said there was no fracture. Now, I am unable to work because of the fracture and am refused treatment citing that I cannot be covered under Arogya Sri.

Narasamma, Podili