Draw inspiration from Alluri Sitarama Raju, says Collector

Ongole: The public should take inspiration from the leadership, sacrifice and personality of Alluri Sitarama Raju, said District Collector Dr Pola Bhaskara. The district tribal welfare department organised 123rd birth anniversary celebrations of Sitarama Raju at Old ZP meeting hall in Ongole on Thursday and the collector participated as the chief guest.

Speaking at the occasion, the collector said that Alluri Sitarama Raju has brought great fame to the tribals in the Indian freedom fight. He said that though Sitarama Raju was born into an upper caste, he fought for the welfare of tribals and saved them from the clutches of the British and he became a war icon, Alluri lead an ordinary life, said the collector and asked the public to take inspiration from him. He said that the government is implementing many programmes for the welfare of backwards and downtrodden people, but many of them were not reached fully, admitted collector.

He said that education helps them to lead in life and asked the students to utilise the scholarships given to them. He announced that the tribal welfare department is running 14 residential schools, 17 ashram schools, two college hostels and advised the students to best utilise the facilities in them.

He asked them to concentrate on career development and assured that the district administration will help them by providing skill development courses. The collector assured that the government schemes reach to the tribal families and see all of them get ration cards, insurance, and pensions with the coordination ITD PO and tribal welfare departments.

Later the collector presented mementoes to the tribal students appreciating their performance in Class X and students of Karedu tribal welfare hostel girls for cultural dance performance. The JC2 Dr A Siri, tribal and BC welfare officer Lakshmi Durga, minority welfare officers Jhansi, social welfare DD Lakshmi Sudha, tribal leaders Peram Satyam, Peram Srinivasulu, Komaragiri Malyadri, Dodda Srinivasulu, Mohan Kumar Dharma, Peram Prabhakar, Ramavath Saida Naik and others also participated in the celebrations.