Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Officials in dilemma over Arogyasri venue

VIJAYAWADA: The district administration is in a dilemma over choosing “a suitable venue” in the city for the scheduled launch of Rajiv Arogyasri programme by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on August 6.

The officials are finding it difficult to finalise the venue for various reasons, including ground capacity, the Government’s guidelines and unconfirmed itinerary of the Chief Minister.

The Government issued detailed guidelines regarding the venue of the programme and prepared a standard design of stalls, patients’ blocks and dais for launching the programme. The officials are in search of a ground that suits the specified design, and in the process zeroed in on Andhra Loyola College ground and Siddhartha Medical College ground.

After the first round of visit, officials and people’s representatives of the district felt that the 15-acre ground of the Siddhartha Medical College may not be suitable for the programme, as water stagnates at some patches. Similarly, the Andhra Loyola College ground, which is about six acres, was thought to be “too small” in comparison with the other one.

The officials also considered the possibility of organising the programme in Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium. But, there were some objections, as a Ranji match between Andhra and Tamil Nadu teams is scheduled to take place in November-December. The IGMC officials have to spruce up the ground for the match from three months in advance. But, the officials are inclined towards the stadium, as it is suitable for the landing of the Chief Minister’s helicopter too. They are of the view that the stadium will be a suitable place, if the Chief Minister wishes to visit Velagaleru, the native place of Chanumolu Venkata Rao, Mylavaram MLA who passed away recently.

However, Rajiv Arogyasri CEO A. Babu and district Collector Shailaja Ramaiyer will have to approve the proposal. Mr. Babu will visit the city on Friday to inspect the arrangements for the programme.

In all, there will be 50 stalls, one each for every mandal and about 60 stalls for medical colleges and corporate hospitals. So far, 25,000 people have enrolled for the medical assistance under the programme in the district. So, it is expected to translate into a minimum crowd of 50,000 people, as an attendant each will be allowed to enter the venue along with the patient.

Apart from this, general public would take part in the programme. Some officials are sceptical whether all the 25,000 patients would turn up for the screening on August 6. Hence, the small ground would also be suitable for the programme, they say. The patients would be screened at the venue and given a date and time for further treatment, officials say.

On Thursday, Minister Mandali Buddha Prasad, Joint Collector G. Ramanarayana Reddy and Police Commissioner K.V. Rajendranath Reddy visited Velagaleru, Ibrahimpatnam and the short-listed venues in the city, but decided to take a decision only on Friday.

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