Concentration of development in capital area draws criticism

Tirupati: Speakers at a meeting on ‘Decentralisation of power, uniform development of all regions and social justice in politics’ strongly opposed capital city-centric development approach and taking away all the State resources for Amaravati development.

They also observed that concentration of power leads to corruption and stressed on priority to backward area development in the State and setting up High Court in Rayalaseema region respecting Sribagh Agreement.

Former Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao said the decentralisation of power is the only way to contain growing corruption and added that it is not desirable to spend a huge amount of Rs 50,000 crore that is nearly one fourth of the state budget for Mahanagar (capital city) development. 

Saying that the corporate health sector failed to deliver goods, he stressed on the government rejuvenating state run hospitals for improving health care as it has turned a major burden for 70 per cent of the population belonging to the poorer sections and middle class.

National BC Commission former chairman Justice V Eswaraiah said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu became an enemy of SCs, STs, BCs and minorities and also alleged that corruption increased manifold in the State. Claiming that 65 per cent of the State people are against Naidu, he said Naidu’s government was fulfilling the interests of only one particular section.

He demanded that the government should make public the caste wise 2011 Census and provide representation to every caste in politics. He said measures should be taken to ensure that the BCs develop socially, educationally and economically.

Former High Court Judge P Lakshma Reddy strongly demanded setting up High Court in Rayalaseema as per Sribagh agreement which became more relevant after bifurcation and also priority in setting up major industries in the backward areas for their development. 

Jana Chaitanya Vedika president V Lakshmana Reddy disclosed that as many as 2,250 castes in the country are yet to make their presence in legislatures which speaks volumes on the gross injustice meted out to these castes even after 70 years of Independence.

He said the State government instead of strengthening panchayats by delegating powers to local bodies ruined them with Janmabhoomi Committees.

Stating that the irrigation projects turned as breeding points for rampant corruption, he demanded speedy completion of all projects in a transparent and time bound manner to lay the path for development of backward areas.

IYR Krishna Rao’s Telugu book `Yevari Rajadhani Amaravati’ was released on the occasion. Former Speaker Agarala Eswar Reddy. AICC member K Pramilamma,  former director of Sri Venkateswara Employees Training Academy {SVETA} Bhuman, Rayalaseema Porata Samithi Chittoor district convenor P Naveen Kumar Reddy, Rayalaseema Intellectual Forum president M Purushottam Reddy, Foundation for Social Awareness secretary Manna Shodekar and others were present.