The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Jobs for all: YSR

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 12, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Jobs for all: YSR

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, APRIL 11. `Praja Patham', a social audit of the Government's performance, was launched today from the Himayathsagar lakebed near here by the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, with a promise of ensuring wage employment to all.

The Chief Minister performed `shramdaan' on the lakebed and interacted with the labourers about the benefits of the food-for-work programme and sought out the reasons for their migration from their native villages. "My Government will ensure that no one goes hungry even for a day," he declared to the labourers working on the de-silting site. There were complaints of discrepancies in a similar exercise — in other parts of the State undertaken by local MLAs and officials — regarding the selection of beneficiaries under programmes such as housing, land distribution and complaints of delayed payment of wages under the national food-for-work programme (NFWP). Drinking water shortage was common to most villages. Officials were instructed to address the grievances `then and there" if possible.

The Chief Minister himself sanctioned Rs.4 crores for a water scheme on the spot at Himayathsagar following complaints from the Minister for Mines, Sabitha Indra Reddy, and the AIMIM MP, Asaduddin Owaisi. Addressing gatherings at Himayathsagar, Duddeda and Hasnapur villages, Dr. Reddy accused the TDP of attempting to stall the work on the projects despite the clearance from courts. He urged the main Opposition not to take it out on the poor for having voted the Congress back to power and pleaded with folded hands "continue attacking me if you do not like me. But do not harm the interests of the poor farmers".

Tender issue

His Government was prepared to discuss the controversy over irrigation tenders even at the project sites if necessary but the TDP should substantiate its allegations. He did not foresee any hurdles in the completion of the irrigation projects.

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Andhra Pradesh