YSRCP leaders criticise the coalition government over ‘Sticker Sanjeevani’, tribal welfare, healthcare, medical seats, mobile towers and stalled development works.
ALLURI SITARAMA RAJU DISTRICT: YSRCP public representatives on Saturday criticised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu over his recent visit to Araku, alleging that the government was focusing on publicity and diversionary politics instead of addressing the pressing problems faced by tribal communities.
Araku MLA Regam Matsyalingam, Paderu MLA Matsyarasa Visweswara Raju and former MLA Kottagulli Bhagyalakshmi alleged that key issues concerning tribal communities, including healthcare, education, employment, roads and mobile connectivity, remained unresolved.
The YSRCP leaders particularly questioned the government's branding of the newly launched Sanjeevani healthcare initiative, alleging that several of the services being presented under the new programme were based on systems introduced during the previous Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government.
The YSRCP leaders claimed that initiatives such as Village Health Clinics, Family Doctor, Aarogya Suraksha and telemedicine had already been introduced under the previous government.
They alleged that these existing healthcare mechanisms were now being repackaged under the name Sanjeevani to create an impression of a new initiative.
Calling it “Sticker Sanjeevani,” the leaders said governance should not be reduced to changing the names of existing programmes and claiming political credit for them.
They argued that tribal communities needed effective implementation and expansion of healthcare services rather than changes in branding.
The YSRCP representatives also alleged that the coalition government had weakened several welfare mechanisms that had benefited tribal communities.
They cited the removal of the volunteer system, which they said had played a role in delivering pensions to people living in remote tribal habitations.
The leaders also alleged that support to tribal farmers holding Recognition of Forest Rights (ROFR) titles had been reduced.
They further raised concerns over medical education in the agency region, alleging that the number of medical seats at Paderu Medical College had been reduced and questioning the future of Parvathipuram Medical College.
The YSRCP leaders demanded clarity from the government on these issues and called for measures to strengthen healthcare and higher education opportunities for tribal youth.
Connectivity in the agency areas was another major issue raised by the YSRCP leaders.
They demanded that the government release a white paper detailing the number of mobile towers installed in tribal and agency areas since the coalition government assumed office.
The leaders claimed that substantial connectivity infrastructure had been created during the previous government and questioned the extent of new infrastructure added subsequently.
They argued that reliable mobile connectivity was essential for tribal communities, particularly for access to emergency healthcare, education, government services and communication.
The YSRCP leaders also criticised the Chief Minister for claiming credit for the development and promotion of Araku Coffee.
They argued that the coffee initiative in the region had a history that predates Chandrababu Naidu's political career and said its development should be viewed in the context of the long-standing efforts of tribal communities and various institutions.
The YSRCP representatives said tribal communities were seeking development, employment opportunities, quality healthcare, better education, roads, connectivity and protection of their rights.
They alleged that religious and political controversies were being used to divert attention from these core issues.
The leaders demanded that stalled development works in agency areas be immediately revived and that safeguards and welfare measures for tribal communities be fully restored.
They said the government should focus on delivering tangible improvements in the lives of people in remote tribal habitations rather than concentrating on political branding and publicity.
