KSR Column: Tribal Deaths And Dalit Woes In ‘Swarna Andhra’ 

By Kommineni Srinivasa Rao

Navya Andhra (New AP), Swarna Andhra (Golden AP), Bangaru Telangana (Golden Telangana).... these are the catch words that the powers that be are floating post the bifurcation of the undivided state.

Are these catchy slogans aspirational? Are they meant to spur us into action to achieve them? Or are they mere placebos meant to lull our senses and quell our queries? Are the Governments really making efforts to achieve these dreamy slogans?

A state is deemed to have made progress only when it climbs up the ladder of human development index. This means the basic needs like food, clothing, housing and health need to be addressed. But, what we are getting to hear about these basic needs is truly disconcerting.

A supposedly progressive and reasonably well-off East Godavari district is witnessing tribal and child deaths in the Agency area. It is clear that tribals and Dalits do not figure in the electoral scheme of things. According to a pained and worried local MLA Rajeswari, as many as 216 infants died in Rampachodavaram constituency during the past six months alone.

Even the pro-Government newspapers could not ignore the death of 16 tribals due to water contamination. How come the chief minister, who claims to be governing the state real time and know what is happening anywhere and everywhere in the state, be unaware of the tribal deaths? Whatever happened to his famed Central Command Control System? He also claims that a responsive administration is just one call away thanks to the call centres manned by hundreds of personnel. Why these deaths and the helpless cries of the tribals fall on deaf years?

Let us admit that such deaths did occur in the past too. The governments of the day tried to find solutions in their own way. But, they had never resorted to boast and bombast the way it is being done now.

Late YSR had launched 108 and 104 services. Arogya Sri was brought in. He ensured that quality healthcare became accessible to the poorest of the poor. But, that's a thing of the past. Today, the government of the day is busy talking about the benefits that accrue from the Chandranna Bima scheme which applies only after the death of a person. It hasn't spoken about how its health machinery will get geared up to prevent deaths. The rural health infrastructure is crumbling and there aren't many doctors to attend to the patients.

How can one reconcile these eminently avoidable deaths and the boastful claims of Golden Andhra? It's not that only rural areas are affected. Even the urban health infrastructure is in shambles. A 12-hour power outage in Kurnool Government Hospital has caused 20 unfortunate deaths.

Similarly, the ostracism of Dalits in West Godavari's Garagaparru is utterly shameful. The situation in that village has been simmering for over two months. The locals had called the call centres many a time, but there was no response. What are all the systems, supposedly put in place by Chandrababu Government, doing? The Government seems to be more interested in keeping people like Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, who are fighting on people's issues, in prison than in addressing the pressing issues that are crying for attention.

The starkest possible indication of the AP Government's attitude towards the tribals lies in not having even a single tribal minister in the cabinet. There are some SC leaders, but they come into the picture only to lambast the Opposition.

The situation is no different in Telangana too despite the much-hyped Mission Bhageeratha. The people in remote places like Adilabad are forced to drink muddied waters. There are pressing health issues waiting to be addressed.

Only when basic amenities and facilities become available to the poorest of the poor in the remotest of the areas, one can make claims of Swarna Andhra and Bangaru Telangana. Till then, these exalted concepts are no more than pipe dreams and no less than foolish slogans!!