State of affairs: Orphaned people of the merged mandals

There is no sign of completion of the Polavaram project in the near future. The centre has merged seven mandals from Telangana State into Andhra Pradesh, which are going to be submerged after the completion of the Polavaram project with an ordinance more than an year ago. But the plight of the people, particularly the tribes is wretched as both the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have turned a blind eye on these mandals leaving the people as orphans. These people are deprived of their basic human rights like health and education. Telangana State government has washed its hands off immediately after the merger of these mandals into AP. The AP government is also shying away from its responsibility. The people of Chintur, VR Puram, Koonavaram, Nellipaka, Yetapaka, Kukkunur, Veleru Padu and Burgam Pahad are at crossroads.

The most important sectors of health and education are suffering a lot due to the negligence of the governments. Most of the staff working in hospitals, schools and colleges have opted for Telangana and joined the State, leaving many posts vacant. At the same time, AP government is not showing any sort of urgency in filling those posts, thus leaving the students and people suffering.

Yedugurrala Palli in Chintur mandal, which has been recognised as the most malaria prevalent region in the country does not have a permanent doctor in the Primary Health Centre (PHC). Only one doctor, who was performing duties in the PHC went to Chintur on deputation leaving only one staff nurse to treat the patients. When the Hans team visited the centre, about 30 patients, particularly students of the residential schools approached the centre complaining of Malaria symptoms and this is an every day affair. Most of them are being tested positive. The people living in the merged mandals have to travel about 200 kilometers, most of the journey on ghat roads to reach Kakinada General Hospital; or more than 100 kilometers to reach the area hospital in Rampa Chodavaram. Mallam Subbamma, resident of the same village recalled that a victim of snake bite from the same village died on the way while he was being shifted to Rampa Chodavaram for treatment.

In the residential school of the same village, S Satyavathi who is the headmistress of the primary school has to teach all subjects from Class I to V for about 300 students due to shortage of staff. The pupils of the school are also complaining that they are not getting sufficient food and essential goods. The warden of the school has put the blame on the Girijan Cooperative Corporation for not supplying required essential commodities for the residential school.

The situation at the Government Junior College in Koonavaram is even worse. In the college where 12 lecturers are required, there is only one principal and one regular lecturer available, as most of the lecturers left by taking the Telangana option. One junior lecturer in Mathematics is teaching at the college where 350 students are studying. Luckily for him, five Post-Graduate students from the same village have come forward to teach the students without any monetary benefit. Vishnu, Mohan, Satyannarayana, Durga Rao and Rama Lakshmi have told The Hans India that they were moved by the plight of the students and decided to teach them without salary.

The situation at the Government Junior College in VR Puram is not much different. In the college where 300 students are studying, there is no permanent lecturer and only one UDC along with two sub-ordinate staff operating the proceedings. Five enthusiastic graduates are teaching in the college.

Bhadrachalam MLA, Sunnam Rajaiah, who sits in Telangana assembly said that plight of the people living in 381 villages of merged mandals, which share 50 per cent of his assembly constituency is very feeble. When he approached the Telangana Chief Minister, he said that KCR declined to hear his woes and Andhra Pradesh government also did not respond to his pleas. He recalled that he has explained to the AP Governor, Election Commission and the President of India about the plight of the merged mandals and he also moved the High Court and is expecting positive response from the Court as scholars are terming this situation as rarest of rare cases in the country. He demanded that he should be made part of the East Godavari Zilla Parishad meetings and ITDA meetings and should be called as a special invitee in AP Assembly.

Moved by the plight of the merged mandals, CPM general secretary,

P Madhu shared that the government has drowned the people of merged mandals even before the completion of the Polavaram project. He lamented that the people are made orphans by the government.

Samson Raj