YSRCP chief assures free treatment to the poor

Eluru: YSRCP president and Opposition leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy assured the people that he would introduce free treatment under Arogyasri scheme if he is voted to power in the State.

He reached Tadepalligudem town on Monday, as part of his marathon walk ‘Praja Sankalpa Yatra’ and addressed a public meeting. Jagan said that former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy introduced Arogyasri in the State with a view to extending a better medical facility to the poor people. However, the scheme was now irregular in implementation. 

For the last eight months, the arrears of Arogyasri were pending with the government. He pointed out that the 108 vehicles were completely damaged and Arogyasri could not be applied for chronic diseases if the patient went to Hyderabad.

“This is our pathetic situation in the State. I assure you that I can extend treatment facility for all diseases free of cost under Arogyasri irrespective of States. I can extend the treatment or surgery free of cost to the diseases which cost over Rs 1,000.  

I can also extend financial assistance to the patient who undergoes surgery during his bed-ridden days and until he recovers completely,” Jagan said. He said a pension of Rs 10,000 would be provided to the poor patient.

Coming down heavily on West Godavari district TDP leaders, Jagan alleged that Zilla Parishad Chairman Mullapudi Bapiraju was running gambling dens by taking training from Chandrababu Naidu.

He alleged that Bapiraju was collecting Rs 30 lakh to allow playing cards in the district. He said the government had put a Circle Inspector under vacancy reserve as he tried to put a full stop to the gambling mafia. 

He alleged that Naidu had imparted training to the TDP leaders on rowdyism, selling of sand, attacking women and fleecing the contractors. Jagan further alleged that the Chief Minister was making visits to the Polavaram Project site not for completion of the project but to collect his share of bribes.

Pointing out that the West Godavari district provided 15 Assembly seats to the TDP during the last elections, he questioned what the Chief Minister did to the district during the last four years.

Jagan demanded that Naidu should make public the details of the developmental activities taken up in Tadepalligudem Assembly constituency. Though Rs 498 crore was allocated to the NIT-AP in Tadepalligudem, no compound wall was constructed so far.

The Opposition leader flayed the Chief Minister for the sluggish progress of Polavaram works. He said farmers of palm oil and maize were suffering due to lack of minimum support price. About 6,000 acres of agriculture lands dried up in West Godavari due to lack of water.