Not A Single Old Age Home Built In Four Years of TDP Rule

Shikabadi, Vizianagarm district: Humanity, compassion, love and kindness form the core of Prophet Muhammad's preachings. On the occasion of Milad-un-Nabi, the holy prophet's birthday, I began my padayatra this morning greeting my Muslim friends and praying for their happiness and well-being.

Shaikh Reshma, Dilshad, Noori and Noor Jahan of Chinamerangi met me in the morning as I set out on my padayatra. They told me that they belonged to a impoverished Muslim family. Placing her trust in Chandrababu Naidu's promise of Shaadi Mubarak scheme, she got her daughter married and hoped that the promised Rs 75,000 would be given. Though she applied within one month of the marriage along with all the necessary documents, the promised assistance was not released. They told me that they were in dire straits due to having to pay interest on the amount they borrowed. They lamented that Chandrababu Naidu's promises were confined to announcements.

The Chandrababu Naidu government has totally ignored minority communities for four and half years and now when elections are around the corner, the chief minister decides to induct a member of the the minority community into the cabinet. What else can one expect from a leader who hopes to fool the minorities once again?

An old couple Simhadri and Narayanamma met me near Alluvada. A freedom fighter, Simhadri is 110 years old. He is hard of hearing and walks with great difficulty. As soon as I greeted him asking him about his well-being, he broke down. He told me that he had no children and no one to call his own. He wondered how much longer he had to continue on this journey of life. I was overcome with sadness. He counselled me "Son, you should earn a good reputation like your father and continue his good work." I felt the need for old age shelters in our society more than ever when I met this couple.

Tribal villagers from Gummalaxmipuram showed me their stall which showcased traditional crops and forest produce. They told me that there were 36 different kinds of forest products. They expressed their anguish saying that they were forced to send their produce to middlemen because of lack of cold storage facilities, absence of a sound marketing system and transport. These traditional, organic products are being sold at exorbitant prices in the market as they are benefical for health. Unfortunately, these innocent tribal farmers who actually grow the crops are being cheated out of their rightful share of profits.

Setty Balija leaders from Godavari district joined the party. They said that they had lost their faith completely in Chandrababu Naidu who used them as a vote bank.

I have a question for the chief minister—In Page 8 of your party's election manifesto you spell out what you term as some important points. You promised to build old age homes in every constituency. In the last four and a half years, have you even built one? The tamarind grown by the tribals is purchased by them at Rs 20 a kilo but the same tamarind is sold in your Heritage outlets at a whopping Rs 326 a kg! Do you have an explanation for this?

Also Read: Chandrababu Has Neglected Tribals Of North Andhra Completely