The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Prized possession that wasn't to be!

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 21, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Prized possession that wasn't to be!

Special Correspondent

Chaos prevails at overcrowded Ravindra Bharathi during a function organised by NEDCAP Winners of competitions on renewable energy theme, parents and teachers swarm the auditorium, leading to utter confusion

FRAYED TEMPERS: Saifabad police Inspector K.V. Ram Narasimha Reddy arguing with an angry parent following the departure of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy from Ravindra Bharathi where Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas was held on Sunday. — Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: The capacity of the Government-owned Ravindra Bharathi auditorium is about 1,200 but the gathering there on Sunday for a function was three to four times more.

As a result, a large crowd of children, parents and teachers were made to wait outside as Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy completed the formalities inside and left.

When the doors were opened, anxious children literally laid siege to the stage to collect their prizes.

Minister on his way out!

Information Minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir, who was supposed to distribute prizes, quietly made his way out as confusion reigned supreme.

Soon, organisers of the function were also untraceable.

This forced Saifabad police Inspector K.V. Ram Narasimha Reddy to take the mike and appeal to the organisers to come on to the stage.

He pleaded with children to vacate the hall. The occasion as `Renewable Energy Day' — Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas — organised by the Non-Conventional Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Limited (NEDCAP).

The agency had conducted competitions in essay-writing, quiz and painting on `Renewable energy' theme in 180 schools of the city to mark the occasion.

NEDCAP invitations

First three winners in each category from every school were extended invitations by NEDCAP to collect the prizes at Ravindra Bharathi.

There was a steady stream of children, parents and teachers from the schools since 7.30 a.m. to the auditorium though the function was scheduled two hours later.

Within a short time, the auditorium was filled to capacity, forcing closure of the door.

The organisers hurriedly held a lucky dip to have the prizes distributed at the hands of the Chief Minister to children from only five schools. When the doors were reopened, the children made a dash to the stage.

On the other hand, parents and teachers gave angry sound bytes to TV channels even as they confronted officials.

There was one woman who was crying for her missing son.

A beleaguered NEDCAP Managing Director Lingaraj Panigrahi said as there were a lot of children on stage, it became difficult for them to pick up the right prizes from the heap.

The Minister left within minutes thereafter and it was announced that the prizes would be sent to the respective schools.

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