Date:03/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/03/stories/2006120306630300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Officials are neglecting problems of poor: CPI(M)

Staff Reporter

Residents of 29 colonies denied basic amenities

FOR A CAUSE: Women from slums attending a protest programme organised by CPI (M) at Anantapur on Saturday.

ANANTAPUR: District secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) G. Obulakonda Reddy alleged here on Saturday that the officials concerned were neglecting the problems of the poor people living in the colonies around the district headquarters town.

Speaking at a dharna staged in front of the MRO's office on the problems of residents of 29 satellite colonies of the town, he stated that most of the colonies were denied the basic amenities. The party had taken out a `padayatra' in these colonies from November 28 to 30 to find out more about the problems.

He explained that most of the dwellers in 19 out of the 29 colonies had no house sites and were living without any right on the site. Besides, most of the colonies were also lacking basic amenities like roads, drinking water supply, drains and power supply.

Repeated requested of the dwellers had fallen on the deaf ears of the officials so far and the problems remained unresolved. The residents had been protesting peacefully so far, but they would resort to direct action if the officials continued to neglect their problems for long, Mr. Obulakonda Reddy warned.

Living conditions

Party leaders V. Rambupal, P. Prasuna, A. Manohar and Savitramma said 12,000 families (nearly 48,000 people) were living in the colonies on the outskirts of the town amidst poor living conditions. These people living there were playing a key role in the development of the town by working as labourers, hamalis, auto drivers and household workers (maids).

As the Government had failed to issue house site pattas, the poor families were forced to approach leaders of political parties to construct a shelter and were facing police cases along with a host of inconveniences. Welfare and development schemes of the Government were also being denied, as the residents had no house sites.

Later, they submitted a memorandum to MRO Nagaraju who arrived into the protest camp. Responding to the demand of issuance of house sites, the MRO said the issue was beyond his control and assured to take their problems to the notice of the district Collector.