Praja Sankalpa Yatra Diary, Day 48 : 2018, Time to Rededicate Myself To People
Mudivedu, Chittoor District:
Today’s yatra began from the outskirts of Ramiganivaripalle (Mulapalli Cross). On the way, I met tomato farmers at Errasanipalle, a region known for tomato cultivaton. Also, a region which has its own set of problems. Though the price at the end of the market chain is very high, the farmers are not getting remunerative prices. They aren’t getting even Rs 25,000 for an input expenditure of Rs 1 lakh. It is the middlemen, who are siphoning off the profits. Whatever happened to the elaborate set-up of market committees and Rythu Bazaars?
Along the way, I met the teachers of Kasturba Gurukul school. They are struggling as contract employees since 2005. Come elections, these lady teachers are showered with assurances that their jobs will be regularized. Once elections over, the promises are forgotten. One of the teachers is differently-abled. “My pension under the disabled category was stopped under the excuse that I already had a contract job. But, I do not know how long this employment might last,” she said. This government acts with unbelievable alacrity when it comes to annulling benefits and cancelling pensions, but competes with a snail when it comes to alleviating the plight of the hapless and the helpless.
At Tamballapalli, Sangha Mitras submitted a petition. They are the change agents and shapers of opinion, who create awareness about every Government scheme and act as the vital links between the people and the Government. “Earlier, we used to be given a monthly honorarium of Rs 2000. Now, even that pittance is stopped. Please help us by ensuring minimum wages once you take reins of power,” they appealed.
Homeguards too poured out their tales of woe. “We are like bonded labourers. Inadequate pay structures and fewer leaves add to the stressful conditions under which we work. Applying for a day’s leave of absence would mean a deduction of Rs 400 from the salary. We do not have bus pass facility. In neighbouring Telangana, the homeguards salary has been hiked to Rs 20,000 and they get bus passes. There’s 25 per cent reservation for them in constable recruitment. But, out here, it is as if our lives are miserable and it’s an endless toil making both ends meet,” they said. The heartless government is making them slog day and night, but ignores even their bare minimum needs. Isn’t providing for its hard-working employees the basic responsibility of the Government? But, this government seems to believe in exploitation of poor employees’ sweat and toil.
The responsibility of the Opposition increases when the Government ignores the welfare of the people. Hence, I would like to dedicate myself from the first day of the New Year to stand by the people and fight for their better future. With this firm resolve at the threshold of the New Year, I entered my Padayatra camp. My best wishes to everyone on the occasion of New Year. We have always stood by the people and waged battles on their behalf, whenever they were betrayed by those in power. In 2018, I have resolved to be with the people every day and every moment through my Padayatra. I will be one with them in their troubles, travails, toil, tears and tribulations. I will spend every moment with this huge family of mine spread across the length and breadth of this state.
As I conclude, here is a question to the Chief Minister!! Why are you not sparing even a moment for the hapless tomato farmers of your home district? Why is it that you have such a low opinion about the farmers? While late Dr. YSR strove to turn agriculture into a celebration, you appear to be hell-bent on making it a wasteful effort. Is it justified or ethically right to become a middleman and fleece farmers?
