Is It Fair To Blame Officials For Your Criminal Neglect Of Problems, Chandrababu?  

Attali, Srikakulam district: Sravana Sandhya and Prasad, a couple from West Godavari District met me with their three-month old child when my Padayatra was in Vizianagaram district. The child has a congenital mental health problem. Doctors had told them that unless immediate treatment was not given, it would prove life-threatening.

They were told that treatment in a private hospital would cost around Rs.12 lakhs and that Arogyasri coverage does not apply. They were visibly agitated because they did not have the means to get their child treated, nor could they leave the child untreated. Their plight moved me. After getting the child treated, they came and met me in Palakonda constituency of Srikakulam district and expressed their gratitude. I felt extremely happy sharing their joy. Similarly, 86-year-old Pingali Vittaleswara Rao came and met me. He told me that in 2007, when he developed heart disease, he did not have the means to undergo heart surgery. At that time, thanks to my father, the surgery was done free of cost in a corporate hospital, and he did not have to pay even for medicines or any other expenses, he recalled with gratitude.

He said that he had worked as a VAO and the pension he gets after retirement was due to my father, he recollected with a lot of gratitude. It is indeed such experiences in life which give you satisfaction and deep-seated joy.

Another elderly man, Sirapu Satyam expressed his anguish on being told that the bonds given to both his granddaughters under girl child protection scheme, were not valid. Dhanalakshmi of Papampeta complained that money due to her daughter under Bangaru Thalli scheme was not being given.

It is truly unfortunate that there isn’t a single scheme for the welfare of the girl child under this TDP government. Removing acts which were already in place and not implementing new ones is outright betrayal of the cause of the welfare and protection of the girl child. This afternoon Muslim brethren from 13 districts came and met me. They prayed for the success of my Padayatra and also for my well-being. They gave me “Aab-e-Zam Zam”, the Holy Water from the most sacred city of the Muslim community, Mecca. The love and affection they showed towards me and members of my family made a deep imprint on me and was an unforgettable experience.

Betel leaf farmers met me in the village of Vandava. The crop I was told is called crop of the Gods. It was with great care and commitment that these farmers tended to this crop. They expressed their deep anguish stating that they did not get the price they should get.

Not just lakes and hills, but most unfortunately, even government schools are being forcibly occupied with land-grabbing attaining new heights. Girl students of eighth standard from Tettangi government school met me. They complained that of the 5 acres of land which belonged to their school four acres had been forcibly occupied. They complained that they had no playground now and no area for sports and games. On September 11, 2017 it was from here that Chandrababu Naidu started his campaign, “Intintiki Telugu Desam”. He had publicly declared that he would ensure that the school was freed from the clutches of land grabbers. Chandrababu had also promised to turn Tettangi into a model village with taps for all homes, drainage facilities, hospital, roads and houses and so on. It hardly came as a surprise to me when villagers said that not one of these assurances had been fulfilled. This is typical of Chandrababu Naidu and his style of functioning. Isn’t it strange on his part to let down people on all promises made to them and then ask them to stand by him?

I have a question for the chief minister—you keep telling people that they should not lose confidence in your government on account of the mistakes committed by officials. You seek people’s support whenever there are elections. Is it just on your part to pass the blame for your unforgivable lapses on to officials?