Praja Sankalpa Yatra Diary, Day 99: Stop Selling Dreams to People, Give Basic Amenities

Uppalapadu, Prakasam District: Water scarcity is a major issue in this entire region. In all the villages, I saw women lining up on the streets waiting for water tankers to arrive so they can carry home a pot of water. Few women who met me in Katuruvaripalem said, “Anna… for a pot of water we have been waiting on the streets for hours together. Let alone water for household usage, there is not even a drop to drink. A tanker comes to the village only once a week and that is not sufficient for us. Despite having raised the water issue, there is no response from the government. Moreover even after drilling 1000 feet, the borewell doesn’t yield water, and if it does it would have high fluoride content.”

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These women were not asking for bigger things in life or desired huge investments for the state, what they were asking was drinking water for their houses which is a basic need. I was saddened to see the plight of elders in the village foregoing their work and waiting for water tankers to arrive while children skipped schools to run after these vehicles. If this is the case of villages in February, it would be worse in April and May. If only my father late Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s Veligonda project was complete, I could have seen happier villages in this region.

It is very unfortunate that Veligonda project, which will address the water needs of over 15 lakh people in the region, has not been completed. In fact it is criminal act to have stopped the work.

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The tale of Sheik Meerabi of Firdousinagar is no better. Meera Bai has three grown up children, two sons and a daughter. All the three children are physically handicapped— legs are paralysed. They have been born with this disability and this was the reason Meera Bai’s husband deserted her. She looks after her children in a small hut without help from any kind of welfare schemes. With 90 per cent physical disability, not one child has ever received any kind of aid. It is unfortunate. “We have to bribe the Janmabhoomi committees to get pension. Where can I get money to bribe them?” said Meerabi bursting into tears which disturbed me a lot. What kind of government is this which is not able to help the needy?

Later at Talamalla, I met the owners of Granite Polishing Units. They poured out their woes: “We have been witness to the golden era in your father’s rule. During the present government, it is not just farmers even small businessmen like us have to commit suicide. There is no support for small businessmen, subsidies neither. In fact, they have raised the power tariff which has burdened us even more. Moreover they penalize us in the name of GO No 37. Our very survival is now under threat.”

Even as the small industries are closing down because of the policies of the present government, it is surprising to see the government claiming that the state has got Rs 20 lakh crores as investments and that new industries are being established and lakhs of jobs will be created. All these are just illusions that Chandrababu is selling to the people to cheat them. Is it fair to cheat the people of the state?

Today, the status of the people in Prakasam district is that they have taken to the roads for a pot of water. Many lives have been lost because of the flouride problem in this region. When a solution is in front of your eyes in the form of Veligonda project, only final phase needs to be completed, yet why is it not taken up? Are you not concerned about people’s welfare and their health? You always proclaim to have 40 years of political experience. Is this how you treat people?