YSR: Cometh the time, Cometh the leader

2003: There was gloom, unrest and disquiet all around. Rising prices, irresponsible governance, insensitive leadership that cared little for the masses…. This was the situation in trouble torn Andhra Pradesh. Even the rain gods were elusive. There was utter despondence in the country side in Andhra Pradesh.

It was then that a determined leader set out on a historic pada yatra, longer than any such yatras. Praja Prasthanam of YSR changed the landscape. He consoled the grieving, instilled confidence and as he moved, the masses followed him. What started as a trickle in Chevella, turned into a deluge at Ichchapuram. This brought in its wake a massive tide of public disgust against Chandrababu Rule and swept him off power.

The Praja Prasthanam of YSR, which covered 11 districts and 679 villages, changed AP and its politics forever.

His pioneering yatra started on April 09 2003. Fourteeen months later, YSR became the chief minister dislodging the seemingly unassailable Chandrababu..

His first signature in the first hour after his swearing in was for providing “free electricity to farmers.”

Some landmark achievements of YSR rule

·      Complete agricultural loan wavier to 63 lakh farmers (11,150 Cores)

·      4% reservation for Muslim minority

·      Free health care for the poor through Arogya Sri

·      Free education for the poor through fee reimbursements

·      Housing for the poor through Indiramma Illu

·      25 liters of water at Rs 2.50

·      Rice at Rs 2 per Kg

·      Free and speed ambulance service 108

·      Irrigation Projects to provide water for 1 lakh acers of land

·      Janjhavathi Rubber Dam in Vizianagaram, a pioneer project watering 24,000 Acers of land

·         Massive Jalayagnam to bring more land under cultivation

And many more.

He showed the leaders of India that the one that nourishes its roots is cherished forever. He called himself a farmer and his priority was the wellbeing and welfare of the farmer.