Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Jobless youth attempts self-immolation at Collectorate

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM, SEPT. 7. A physically-challenged youth caused tension at Spandana, the weekly public grievances redress programme, at the Collectorate on Tuesday by dousing himself with kerosene in an apparent bid for self-immolation as he was not able to secure a livelihood.

The 25-year-old Raavi Prasad, an arts graduate having an ITI certificate in painting belonging to Meduwada village in Raavikamatam mandal, had submitted his petition at the Spandana programme on August 23 claiming that the dealership for the fair- price shop at his village was given to a woman who did not possess the required qualifications, ignoring his application.

Earlier, he had been refused employment by the Visakha Dairy and the Mahindra and Mahindra. Both his parents are handicapped persons.

``I am frustrated. I am denied dealership and at both job interviews they did not select me. There is no response to the complaint I filed at the Spandana,'' Prasad told reporters later.

Along with his friend, Meesala Suryanarayana, president of the Abhyudaya Handicapped Persons Welfare Society, Prasad was waiting for the Collector. As Mr. Praveen Prakash arrived and was proceeding to the meeting hall on the first floor, Prasad reached the portico and pulled out a bottle of kerosene he had brought and doused himself with it. Before he could pull out a match stick and set himself afire, people around him who were alerted by the smell of kerosene held him tight.

The District Revenue Officer, M. Ramakrishna Rao, rushed to the spot, and after a while, the Collector also came down. They ordered their staff to wash the petitioner with water and bring him to the meeting hall.

Mr. Praveen Prakash said that the petition was given only 15 days ago and regretted that Prasad had decided to take the extreme step. The Collector wanted the Revenue Divisional Officer to send the file regarding the FP shop allotment.

The incident also prompted him to instruct his officials to bring to his notice without delay all important matters.

Asked for his comments, Mr. Praveen Prakash said that FP shop allotment was done according to rules and one could appeal to the higher authorities if he or she felt there were irregularities.

However, petitioners must be patient since an appeal had to be examined. "Justice will be done if their complaint is established.''

No holiday

Mr. Praveen Prakash made it clear that the Spandana programme would go on. "There is no holiday for Spandana. It will be held every Monday. Even if the officials are not present, I will conduct the programme.''

Since the programme was a continuous process, it was necessary to motivate the officials and prepare an agenda to secure the desired results. He wanted to give six months time to the officials in this regard.

The number of petitions being received was manageable, he said and added that so far nearly 170 out of the 550 complaints received had been solved.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• Jobless youth attempts self-immolation at Collectorate
• `Yawning' threat on roads
• Held on assault charge
• Around the City
• In Visakhapatnam Today

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu