Ambedkar Smriti Vanam Lies in Neglect: Staff Unpaid, Sanitation System in Ruins

After its failed attempt to privatise Dr BR Ambedkar Smriti Vanam in Vijayawada, the TDP government appears to be resorting to new tactics.

Spread across 18.81 acres, the Smriti Vanam houses the world’s tallest Ambedkar statue, a museum dedicated to the architect of the Indian Constitution, and a theatre. Former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had christened the statue as the State of Social Justice.

However, the TDP government has left the park in a state of complete neglect. The sanitation system has been dismantled, restricting public access to the premises. The water fountains remain shut, while the ponds are choked with garbage and moss. Once envisioned as a space to educate visitors about Ambedkar’s legacy, the Smriti Vanam now lies abandoned and inaccessible.

Reports suggest that the TDP government has also withheld salaries of 23 staff members for nine months. When they protested on October 3, they were paid one month’s salary, followed by six months’ arrears after continued demonstrations. There is now speculation that some of the protesting staff may face termination.

The government’s actions against Ambedkar Smriti Vanam are not new. Soon after assuming power in 2024, the TDP-led alliance removed YS Jagan’s name from the site—an act carried out secretly at night, without official orders. Construction of a library, children’s play area, and outdoor auditorium was also halted, and a DWARCRA Bazaar was allowed to operate on the premises.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s earlier plan to privatise the site—an institution of profound social significance—was suspended only after strong protests from the YSRCP and Left parties.

The continued neglect of Dr BR Ambedkar Smriti Vanam reflects a troubling disregard for spaces that embody the principles of equality, social justice, and collective memory.