Janmabhoomi programme ends abruptly following drowning of boy

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, AUG 6. The accidental death of a ten-year-old boy, Sai, who got drowned in Kothacheruvu, Tolichowki, even as the `basti sabha' was going on at the nearby Babu Jagjivan Ram Nagar, forced the two Ministers, Messrs K. Vijayarama Rao and C. Krishna Yadav, to abruptly end the day's programme on the sixth day of the Janmabhoomi in the City.

According to local residents, the boy is stated to have gone for a swim alongwith two or three boys and got drowned. As the news spread, the victim's relatives rushed to the sabha crying. This forced Mr. Vijayarama Rao to postpone the programme. He announced ex-gratia of Rs.50,000 to the boy's family from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

Mr. Rajeshwar Tiwari, Hyderabad Collector, told the meeting that 300 `basti sabhas' had been organised so far in the district during the Janmabhoomi programme. About 5,000 women had availed themselves of the facilities at the free medical camps conducted along with the sabhas since August 1. The administration, he stated, was aware of the problems of the residents like shortage of house sites, houses and inadequate water and power supply.

Dr.P.K.Mohanty, MCH Commissioner, Mr.L.V.Subramanyam, Managing Director, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, who joined the group later, spoke. During his interaction with some members of the thrift groups, Mr. Krishna Yadav was told that several groups, some of them three years old, did not receive the revolving fund what officials describe as lack of budget. The Minister promised to look into this.

Addressing the `basti sabha' at Ambedkarnagar, Chandrayangutta, Mr. Yadav promised to take up with officials the sanction of revolving fund to some local thrift groups, as also gas connections under the Deepam scheme by the next phase of Janmabhoomi. He said ration cards would be given after the completion of an ongoing survey in two or three months. Mr. Yadav promised to take up with the SC Corporation the plea of local youth for assistance to take up employment schemes.

Women in the audience pleaded for improved drinking water and streetlights and complained about the mosquito menace and high power tariff bills. Mr. Pentaiah, general secretary, Ambedkarnagar Basti Association, represented to the Minister seeking construction of the first floor of the community hall, where the sabha was held, and bus stop at Falaknuma Palace.

The Hyderabad Collector, on hearing some members of a thrift group talk about their intent to wind up their activity, advised them to continue. The administration, he said, would consider giving the needed assistance to the group.

At the instance of Mr. Yadav, Mr. Omar Jaleel, Additional Commissioner, MCH, advised the leader of the group to approach the MCH for securing the revolving fund assistance and not an NGO like QOVA. Mr. Yadav later inspected the local Rythu bazar.

Messrs Venkateswar Rao, Chief Rationing Officer, B.R.Rao, Chief Planning Officer, the District Manager, Housing, Adinarayana Reddy, and the RDO, Ms. Rekharani, accompanied the Ministers.

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