The Hindu : Govt. unmoved by farmers' plight: YSR

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 12, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Govt. unmoved by farmers' plight: YSR

By Our Staff Reporter

THOORPUGUDEM (NALGONDA DT) FEB.11. The British Raj was better than the present TDP Government in providing succour to the people during the drought spell, according to Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the CLP leader. "The British provided at least gruel (`ganji') to the starving people but this Government is doing nothing.''

Addressing villagers of Thoorpugudem in the interior part of Aler mandal here on Tuesday, Mr. Reddy alleged that the Government had miserably failed to provide works. It is not even providing water facility to the people resulting in "large scale exodus from villages.''

About a 100 out of 300 families in this village have migrated to various parts of the country in search of work and another 50 are all set to leave the village. Moved by a special story published in a newspaper on the mass migrations, the CLP leader chose to visit this tiny village along with MLAs, K. Jana Reddy, P. Govardhan Reddy, K. Venkat Reddy and R. Srinivas. He also organised the gram sabha on Janmabhoomi lines to know the grievances of the people.

"Despite the fact that ryots and agricultural workers are deserting villages en masse, the State Government does not bother a bit. We have come here to open its eyes so that it can realise the situation that has reached an alarming level,'' Dr. Reddy maintained. He assured the farmers of questioning the Government on their plight during the forthcoming Assembly session.

Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, the CLP leader said that he was pulling up either a Minister or an official to divert the attention of the people from the problems being confronted by them. "He should not think that scolding others is a penance for the sins being committed by his Government,'' he said. Dr. Reddy and the posse of Congress leaders visited some of the houses and interacted with the owners to know the problems.

Addressing a gathering at a neighbouring village, Sharajpet, the CLP leader said, "Had the Congress come to power, it would have given free-power to the people. Then, you would not have faced the problem of forcible collection of power dues.'' He further lambasted the Government for "its failure to provide works, water and fodder''.

The DCC president, Swami Goud, the ZP chairperson, V. Prasanna, the former Minister, R. Damodar Reddy, and other leaders were present.

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Govt. unmoved by farmers' plight: YSR