Date:19/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/19/stories/2007071955860800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

‘Education, health sectors in bad shape’

Staff Reporter

23 persons died of gastroenteritis:BJP

KADAPA: Functioning of Education and Medical and Health Departments are wayward due to lack of control and accountability, Bharatiya Janata Party district president O. Srinivasulu Reddy alleged on Wednesday.

Criticising Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the BJP leader charged him with being unable to post a District Medical and Health Officer, Regional Joint Director of School Education and District Educational Officer in vacant posts in the district.

The Government failed to formulate school calendar and supply adequate textbooks and was mooting closure of schools, he alleged at a press conference here.

Dengue rampant

Dengue was rampant in Kadapa district but medical and health officials were lax, Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy alleged. No remedial measures were being taken despite death of 23 persons in the district due to gastroenteritis and viral fevers, he alleged.

He urged the Chief Minister to take immediate remedial measures without being indifferent to the plight of poor patients.

Streamline departments

The BJP leader sought steps to imbue a work culture in education and medical and health departments. He suggested sanctioning of bills for school buildings built under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan basing on reports of mandal education officers and headmasters.

Unless functioning of the two departments improved, number of illiterate and ailing persons would increase in each poor household, he cautioned.