Date:01/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/01/stories/2007040111400500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Minister gheraoed on row over PHC

Staff Reporter

Trust to take over Gudibanda health centre

Minister questioned on Congress stance when in the Opposition

Raghuveera tries to allay fears of people on privatisation

ANANTAPUR: Minister for Agriculture and Civil Supplies N. Raghuveera Reddy was gheraoed by activists of the Joint Action Committee comprising non-governmental organisations, trade unions and employees' associations here on Saturday against the privatisation of the public health centre at Gudibanda in the district.

The PHC in the Minister's constituency will be taken over by Swamy Japananda Trust of Pavagada in Karnataka from April 1. The formalities of handing over the PHC were completed last week and the PHC staff was allowed to work together with the staff of the private organisation till March 31.

The activists questioned the Minister as to why the Congress had supported agitations against the privatisation when not in power and why it had changed its stand now.

CITU activists reminded the Minister that he too had supported their agitation against privatisation when he was in the opposition.

Explanation

The Minister explained that people and people's organisations need not be suspicious on Government intentions as only the adoption of PHC by an NGO was limited to Gudibanda alone and it would not be implemented anywhere else.

Meanwhile, some 20 activists of Telugu Yuvatha were arrested by the police when they tried to enter the function of `Arogya Sri' scheme launching here.

They went in a procession to the function venue but were obstructed by the police at a distance. The police did not permit them when they wanted to submit a memorandum on unemployment.

They squatted on the road against the police's refusal to allow them further and were later arrested.