Now, Rayalaseema feels neglected
■ Leaders demand decentralised development of the region
Andhra Pradesh seems to be in for another movement, as Rayalaseema leaders and intellectuals are raising their voice against centralised development in the state.
Rayalaseema leaders, under former minister M.V. Maysura Reddy, have started demanding decentralised development in the state.
Mr Reddy has written to all political party presidents in the state, saying that the Greater Rayalaseema region (Nellore, Prakasam, Kadapa, Kurnool, Ananthpur and Chittoor) was being neglected by politicians and asked them to come up with a manifesto that gives importance to backward districts.
Criticising the AP government’s move to establish the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Amaravati region, Mr Reddy said: “The capital region has lots of hospitals and medical colleges and universities. There is greater need for medical institutions in the Rayalaseema region. But the government has no idea what they are doing.”
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Mr Reddy said: “Apart from the Assembly, Secretariat and High Court, the government has sanctioned plots to 65 central and state institutes in Amaravati region. When the central government says there is no feasibility for a railway zone in Vishakhapatnam, why didn’t the government mention Guntakal division? The tax is being paid by people from all parts of the state. Then why should development be confined to Amaravati region?”
Former Andhra Pradesh chief secretary Ajeya Kallam said the people of Telangana region were irked by Andhra Pradesh rulers and initiated the movement for a separate Telangana state and this may be repeated, as Rayalaseema people are now noticing that they are being neglected.
He said, “The Central government allocates funds keeping backward districts of a state in mind. But, when the funds reach a state, the government acts as per its wish.”
Former director-general of police Mr C. Ajaneya Reddy, retired High Court judge Mr P. Lakhmana Reddy, former RTI commissioner Mr Sk Imtiyaz Ahmed and High Court senior advocate Mr P. Gangaiah Naidu also expressed their views.