Andhra Pradesh

‘Strategy to remove inequality needed’

VISAKHAPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh State Council for Higher Education (APSCHE) Chairman K.C. Reddy has said the government should work out a strategy to counter the “widening inequality” in education and health care system and to uplift the rural economy which was in very bad shape in the country.

Addressing a seminar on human security in India with special focus on Andhra Pradesh under the auspices of Andhra University Centre for SAARC studies here on Saturday, he said compared to the national average of 60 per cent of the students studying in government and government-aided educational institutions, in Andhra Pradesh the figure was only 51 per cent. Due to a fast moving economy, the employment system had also become more ‘casualised’ than the formal one.

Humanity must have ability to participate, to choose and enjoy free and peaceful living. Employment was a decent part of security. If the growth was taken care of the rest of the things would be taken care of automatically. Employment, health and education were important parameters of security. Violence and development were the two sides of the same coin and if development did not bring security then violence would rise, he warned and stressed the need for redefining the priorities in terms of multi-dimensional security to human beings.

Hyderabad University retired political science professor G. Haragopal pointed out that due to privatisation, the economy had moved to such a phase that 33 industries with an investment of Rs.7 lakh crore was controlling 13 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country whereas 60 crore people in the remaining sectors live on 20 per cent of GDP.

This disparity was due to the economic condition in the country. He also hit out at the government’s policies which led to suicides of farmers in various States. Such incidents were also the result of privatisation of education and health system, he added.

AU Vice-Chancellor L. Venugopal Reddy and AU executive council member R. Venkata Rao participated.

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