Date:02/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/02/stories/2008040253560300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Lukewarm response to ‘IMPACT’ in rural areas

B.V.S Bhaskar

Sixteen Burrakatha, four Harikatha teams deployed

Photo: S. Rambabu

A publicity vehicle of the government on the move. —

Ramachandrapuram (East Godavari): Integrated Mobile Publicity in Assembly Constituencies (IMPACT) programme launched by the Congress Government to give wide publicity to different welfare schemes is getting lukewarm response in rural areas.

‘Prachara Rathams’, decorated vans with flex boards of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy along with a stage, are deployed for publicity. Sixteen Burrakatha and four Harikatha teams have been sent along with these vans in the district.

Every morning these vans visit villages and give publicity about government schemes like Rajiv Arogya Sri, Jala Yagnam, free power, ‘pavala vaddi’, Rajiv Gruhakalpa, National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) and new Rs.2 per kg. rice scheme.

However, the publicity vehicles are getting poor response as most of the farmers and agriculture labourers will be in farms in the morning. And in the evenings too the turnout has been low as most of the people prefer to stay indoors watching TV programmes.

Moreover, the IMPACT teams have to inform sarpanch and also the MLA of the constituency about the programme of the day.

“I have no information about how many teams have conducted this programme in my constituency. I think no sarpanch in our constituency has information about this,” said Chinnam Babu Ramesh of Yellavaram Constituency. “We are sending our children to see films and street plays. We have no interest,” said Ramarao of Draksharama.

Actually, the Divisional Public Relations Officer has been monitoring implementation of the programme. In all 44 troupes comprising 250 artistes have been deployed. Artists are being will be paid Rs.400 per a show.

“We have received only half of the payment. We have not been paid any thing for the last one month,” complained Satyanarayana, a Burrakatha artiste.

When contacted, District Public Relations Officer K. Jayarao said they have outsourced the programmes and the amount will be paid to artistes by concerned agency. He said that IMPACT was going on in the district and feedback would be sent to the government after the completion of the project.

According to P. Bhaskar, zonal coordinator of the district, the programmes were conducted in 50 places in 10 constituencies in first phase and cultural troupes are performing in remaining constituencies. He said dues to artistes would be cleared shortly.