Pawan sets 48-hour deadline for AP

​Srikakulam: Cine actor and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday set a 48-hour deadline to the state government to appoint a cabinet sub-committee on kidney diseases in Uddanam area in Srikakulam district.

Uddanam area ranks fourth in the world in kidney-related deaths. If the state government failed to prepare a report on kidney diseases and its prevention in 15 days, JSP will start a movement with affected people, warned Pawan Kalyan.

Pawan, who interacted with kidney patients in Manikanta cine theatre in Itchapuram town, wanted the government to find quick solutions to fatal disease.

The Jana Sena Party founder targeted Central and State governments for its failure to prevent kidney diseases at Itchapuram, Kaviti, Kanchili, Sompeta mandals in Uddanam area.

Demanding that the government treat kidney diseases in the area as a calamity, Pawan Kalyan wanted the government to provide quick and sufficient relief to victims.

The actor offered apology to kidney patients at the beginning of his interaction for his failure to attend the programme on December 6, 2016 due to death of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

The JSP chief criticised the state government for spending hundreds of crores of rupees for inauguration of capital at Amaravati and Pushkaralu but not spent even Rs 100 crore for kidney patients which has been claiming thousands of lives for years together in the area.

Stating that the government revenue after demonetisation has increased, he suggested the government to spend small amount from it for welfare of kidney patients.

As expected, the Pawan’s ultimatum drew an instant reaction from Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas. Talking to reporters at Kaikaluru in Krishna district, Srinivas said he would address all the issues raised by the JSP leader relating to kidney ailments on a priority basis.

The government will provide adequate dialysis centres in the affected areas so as to save the patients from the drudgery of travelling to Visakhapatnam for a distance of 250 km to undergo dialysis.

The minister said he will go round Uddanam region comprising seven mandals prone to kidney ailments shortly and get to know the ground realities.

Although Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) was located in Srikakulam district, it lacked nephrologists and dialysis centres, it is complained.

Pawan Kalyan found fault with the reply of Health Minister K Srinivas to his Youtube message on kidney diseases.

“Setting up dialysis centres is not a solution. Efforts should be made to find out the causes and prevent the disease,” he said.

At least 300 kidney patients attended the meeting from four mandals of Uddanam area. Pawan interacted with kidney patients, K Manoj, M Dillemma, P Chalapathi and two others. Sompeta-based Dr Y Krishnamurthy explained history of kidney diseases in Uddanam.

After conclusion of interactive session, Pawan participated in the road show which created traffic jam in which the actor got stuck for more than an hour. Later he left for Visakhapatnam.