Praja Sankalpa Yatra Diary Day 79: Chandrababu Should Go If AP Youth Have To Get Jobs

Devarapalem (Nellore): We are remembered by the good we do. This is especially true of leaders who live in the hearts of people forever through their good deeds. I was reminded of this once again when Padmavati came to see me this morning at Mulumudi. She did not seek help, but came to me only to express her gratitude.

She hailed from a very poor background and her only son had been suffering from a heart condition which required surgery. Thanks to the pioneering healthcare scheme, Arogyasri, introduced by my late father, Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy, this heart operation was carried out during his time. She was overjoyed that her son is now not only rid of the problem, but is studying well. Therefore, she met me to express her gratitude. This brief interaction showcased the enormous good that my father did through an array of welfare schemes and how close people’s welfare had been to his heart. It proved once again how he is remembered through his welfare schemes. Chandrababu Naidu’s election slogan was “Job raavali ante Babu raavali” (bring Babu to get jobs). Today, we know how hollow this promise was. How deceptive this assurance was is proved day after day in my interaction with people.

Another illustration of the emptiness of this promise came in the form of my meeting with doctors of the Pharma. D course today. In 2008, the Centre had introduced the six-year Pharma D course. 70 colleges were granted permission in undivided Andhra Pradesh. From 2014, up until now, three Pharma D batches have passed out. As per the guidelines of the WHO, for every facility with 50 beds there has to be a clinical pharmacist, with due qualifications for Pharma D. However, these jobs have not been notified or created, leave alone filled! As a result about 3000 qualified Pharma D. candidates have been rendered jobless. Students who had completed these courses recently went on a 12-day indefinite hunger strike, but it had no effect on the TDP government.

They sought the early creation of jobs failing which their costly degrees, with each candidate having spent about 10 lakh rupees, would go waste, they lamented. They said:“Forget about Babu providing jobs, our case is a classic example of how even existing job opportunities are being wasted by the Chandrababu Naidu government.” Vikramasimhapuri teachers told me that they had been working in the university since its inception. After the TDP government came to power, flouting all regulations it removed 26 employees from service. They went to court left with no other option. The court asked the government to continue their services, they said. However, the TDP government paid no heed to court orders and they were compelled to seek justice filing a contempt petition, they said. “We are now convinced that if we need jobs Babu has to go”—the contrary principle is true, they said. I learnt that the Chandrababu Naidu government was particularly vindictive towards those who secured employment during my father‘s tenure. Why this vendetta?

I have a question for the Chief Minister. At the time of the division of state, it was disclosed that 1,42,000 job vacancies were there. Has even one vacancy been filled up? Forget about giving jobs or creating jobs, is it fair to take away existing employment? Is this your idea of justice?