Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

Rural backwardness due to naxals: Naidu

By Our Staff Reporter

ADILABAD FEB. 15. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Saturday appealed to people in the rural areas to support the Government in effectively curbing the naxalite problem.

Mr. Naidu was addressing a public meeting at tribal-dominated Utnoor divisional headquarters, 65 km from here. The Chief Minister, on the second day of his visit to Adilabad district, first flew into Narnoor mandal headquarters from Nirmal town, where he inaugurated the newly-constructed residential school building. Later at Utnoor, in his address he dwelt on the backwardness of the rural areas due to the naxalite problem.

He said that if the officials and the elected representatives were not allowed to visit the rural areas, it was impossible to provide the much-needed facilities. He said the rural people should unite and oppose the naxalites so that they dare not enter their villages. He pointed out that though the Government had announced rehabilitation package to surrendered naxalites, the response was not good.

Referring to the development of the tribal areas, Mr. Naidu said provision of safe drinking water was the top priority of the Government. Due to the severe drought condition, there was drinking water crisis and fodder was in short supply. Efforts were being made to provide drinking water to the tribal areas.

The Chief Minister announced a sum of Rs. 1.75 crores for the development of the tribal area in Utnoor division. He said that a major civil hospital was constructed at Utnoor to provide improved medicare.

There were 19 ambulances at the disposal of the primary health centres in the tribal areas. Velugu mission would alleviate poverty and the IFAD programme was doing wonders in the rural areas, he said.

The Chief Minister laid the foundation for a filter bed at Utnoor and later unveiled the statues of the former Chief Minister, N.T. Rama Rao, and the first Tribal IAS officer in the State, late Madavi Tukaram.

Talking about Tukaram, the Chief Minister said the former IAS officer with sheer hard work went on to become an able administrator and was idolised by the tribals. It was unfortunate that Tukaram avoided modern medicines and instead depended on the superstitious belief which ultimately claimed his life.

Mr. Naidu later visited the Utnoor civil hospital and paid homage to the ASI, Krishna, who died in a road accident.

The Chief Minister then flew into Dandepalli mandal headquarters where he laid the foundation for the remodelling of the Dandepalli canal from D-14 to D-32 to be taken up at a cost of Rs. 18 crores.

He also laid the foundation for a 132/33 KV sub-station at the mandal headquarters. He then proceeded to Bhainsa town, where the newly-constructed municipal building and the milk chilling centre were inaugurated.

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