Praja Sankalpa Yatra Diary, Day 78: Arogyasri to Ayushmaan, Jaitley Walks in YSR’s footsteps

4 Feb, 2018 10:12 IST|Sakshi
AP Leader of Opposition YS Jagan Mohan Reddy

South Mopuru, Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district: The healthcare scheme announced by the Centre as part of the Union budget reminded people across the country of Arogyasri, the pioneering healthcare scheme initiated by my father, the late Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy. My father had brought in this scheme with single-minded determination for the welfare of the poor, 11 years ago. More than 20 states in our country have emulated Andhra Pradesh’s example, after my father launched Arogyasri. NITI Aayog admitted that the Centre’s proposed healthcare scheme, Ayushman Bharat, was modelled on Arogyasri, initiated by my father, the late Dr.YSR. My joy knew no bounds when I heard this. My heart swells with pride at the thought that the Centre was inspired by my father’s groundbreaking healthcare scheme. One lives through one’s good deeds, is the underlying message in this.

Also read: Chandrababu Deprived Nellore Students Of World Class University: YS Jagan

This morning, drivers belonging to the tribal community met me. They told me that in 2016 they had been selected as drivers in RTC after a due process of interviews. They also underwent training, they said. However, they have not been issued appointment orders, they complained. They lamented that though their certificates and licenses were still with the authorities, they were constantly made to run from pillar to post and their complaints went unheeded.They were told each time that they would get their postings soon, and yet nothing has materialised so far. Their suffering was further compounded by the fact that their licences were with the authorities and they were in a state of limbo, unsure whether they would get the RTC jobs as promised, and unable to seek employment elsewhere. If they go without jobs for years on end, how can they survive? After having considered them eligible for appointment and selecting them through a process of interviews, postponing their appointments is nothing short of cruelty and insensitivity towards tribals on the part of the TDP government.

After the lunch break, contract employees of the trauma care centre approached me with a petition. They pointed out that the Centre had allocated Rs. 100 cr for the setting up of 13 trauma care centres. The objective of this mission was clear—to provide immediate first aid to accident victims at the site of the mishap and thereby reduce the number of deaths and injuries resulting from road accidents. However, they were going unutilised due to the Chandrababu Naidu government’s negligence, they lamented. As a result, only 400 of the 720 posts were filled up and those who had jobs were not being paid for months, they said.

How flippant the TDP government is when it comes to trauma care to accident victims, can be gauged from the fact that there has been no review of the centres in four months! Be it 108, 104, trauma care or any aspect of healthcare, the Chandrababu Naidu government’s attitude is marked by apathy and insensitivity.

A group of auto drivers met me late in the evening and complained that they had to spend Rs. 12,000 on a fitness certificate each year and that they were being fined Rs. 50 per day in case of any delay in obtaining the certificate, they said. The rising prices of petrol and diesel made matters worse, they said, making everyday life a battle for survival. What are these poor drivers left with if their hard-earned money is spent on fitness certificates and fines?

I have a question for the Chief Minister—Arogyasri is being used as a model healthcare scheme and is being implemented in more than twenty states across the country. Isn’t it shameful to see the scheme being totally neglected in AP—the state where it originated?

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