4th to 8th February 2008
Organized by: Rayalaseema Praja Dwani and Samaana Vidya Saadana Samithi.
The Janachaitanya Yatra has been organized in Rayalaseema region from 04th to 8th February 2008 with the objective of achieving rights on Education, Health and Employment. It has started on 4th February 2008 at Kurnool and gone through Kurnool, Kadapa, Ananthapur, Chittoor and Nellore Districts and ended at Nellore by public meeting. Finally a mega rally and public meeting was held on 9th February 08 at Kolar District head quarter in Karnataka State by participating of various communities and associations from different states of south India.
Planning for Rayalaseema Region Yatra: The meeting was conducted on 12th January 08 in SPIC meeting hall at Tirupati to make the plan for organizing yatra in the districts of Kurnool, Kadapa, Ananthapur, Chittoor and Nellore by participation of Rayalaseema Praja Dwani members, Like minded NGO’s, Teachers Unions, Students Union, Trade Unions and Civil Society Leaders. It was discussed and planned to start the yatra at Kurnool City and closing at Nellore City by inviting MLC’s or MLA’s, people representatives during starting and closing the yatra and also in remaining places it was decided to make the people representatives to participate in yatra. During yatra it was planned to garland for Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Statues, Press Meets would be organized at district and mandal head quarters, involving those who works on Education, Health and Employment sectors like individuals, sangas, organizations, intellectuals, agitators, the yatra would be taken to people through pamphlets distribution, posters, wall writings and print & electronic media. In this meeting 28 representatives from different organizations have participated from 5 districts of Rayalaseema region including Nellore.
During starting and closing functions the concerned district responsible persons are arranging welcome arrangements when yatra goes from district to district, and inviting the guests. For which the RPD render cooperation in giving suggestions and instructions to make the yathra success..
Budget planning meet: On 26th January 2008 the budget planning meet was held at PRAGATHI office Tirupati under the convener of RPD. The RPD committee members and district responsible persons have involved in making budget planning. It was discussed and decided for inviting VIP’s, Media, arranging yatra vehicle, mobilizing community for starting programme (4th), closing function (8th), Kolar rally & Public Meeting (9th), food arrangements and also who are all participating in yatra from 4th to 8th. February 08.
Rayalaseema Region: Kurnool, Ananthapur, Kadapa, Chittoor and Nellore Districts are taken as Rayalaseema regional level districts and the Janachantanya Prachara Yatra organized under Samaana Vidya Saadana Samithi and Rayalaseema Praja Dwani started at Kurnool city on 4th February 08 and closing at Nellore on 8th February 08.
District wise Janachaitanya prachara yatra:
Kurnool district: On 4th February 2008 the yatra was launched by Mr. Subba Reddy MLC at Kurnool town garlanding to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar statue and flagging. The RPD Convener Mr. K.V. Ramana speaking that in 2006–07, 19 schools was closed in the district showing the cause of below 10 children in each school and also 181 farmers have committed suicide. He also stated about why the children strength is decreasing in the schools? For which the main reason is not filling vacancies of teacher posts, secondly appointing Vidya Volunteers without any training, thirdly lacking with proper buildings, benches, block boards and other infrastructure facilities. Resulted the poor children becomes out of school not knowing how to study and go to school. He also expressed the children who belongs to better off families are shifting to private convent schools. In this connection the yatra started against for privatization of education sector in the name of concept schools which becomes commercial in the state.
Mr. Subba reddy MLC: He appreciated the Samaana Vidya Saadhana Samithi and Rayalaseema Praja Dwani which are organizing yatra to aware the people on government policies against the present education and health system and rights of employment. He told to bring agitations of people together and assured to bring pressure on government in legislative council by collectively/involving all the members of legislative council and also fight against for government decision on privatization of education sector. He also demanded to implement pro Kotari recommendations on CSS for uniform / common education.
Rally: After launching the programme the rally was held from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar statue of collectorate via Amberkar Bhavan for 4 kms with 25 culturists who given slogans by using dappus and demonstrating kalajathas. Mr. Prabhakar, Mr. Savio Charles from Samaana Vidya Saadana Samithi, RPD leaders, NGO representatives, STU leaders, Students Union leaders, Students have been participated actively in the Rally and after that memorandum was submitted to the Kurnool district collector.
Panyam: The yatra reached Panyam town in kurnool district where the VRD organization welcomed the yatra people by nearly 600 people who have come from different villages. The yatra rally took 2.05 kms in the mandal head quarter publicities through mike, giving slogans, using dappus, singing songs and conducted public meeting at 4 cross roads. During when the main leaders of yatra have spoken on existing situation of schools, problems of agriculture labours and health service.
Nandyal: At agriculture market circle in Nandyal town, the kalajatha team performed cultural programme on education, health issues and the leaders of RPD spoke on common school system need and advantages. Where nearly 1000 people have been gathered, the pamphlets was distributed and taken the main aim of the yatra to the people.
Rudravaram: The yatra reached Rudravaram and welcomed by VRD’s activists with nearly 800 people at the entrance of town. In the town the rally took with people and cultural team demonstrated kalajathas through using dappus. After that the RPD leaders and Mr. Prabhakar of SAMAANA VIDYA SAADANA SAMITHI spoke at cross roads of Rudravaram on CSS and peoples role in bringing pressure on government.
Allagadda: The rally was held in Allagadda streets after garlanding to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar statue by giving slogans, using dappus, publicities in mike for nearly 1.5 kms. The meeting took place at cross roads in which the leaders spoke on education, health, employment sectors and suicides of farmers.
Kovelakuntla: In mandal head quarter the local NGO’s, teachers unions, people welcomed to yatra and rally was held in the streets given publicities through mike and slogans on health, education and employment sectors.
Ananthapur: Second day of yatra the local NGO’s and RPD leaders received and welcomed yatra people. Nearly 4 kms a big rally took place in the town started and garlanding to late Babu Jagjeevan Rao and ended at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar statue with public meeting. During the time, the leaders of yatra were expressed that 64 schools in the district have been closed with the cause of 10 children strength and also 165 farmers committed suicide. They also stated that due to the government’s policies and negligence the most backward district is backward in the sectors of education, health and employment.
Bukkaraya Samudram: At Bukkaraya Samudram bus stand the yatra meeting was held by display of dappus, singing songs / slogans and the aim of yatra taken to the people through the speech by the yatra leaders.
Review of yatra: During second day of yatra, the RPD committee and Samaana Vidya Saadana Samithi team have been reviewed the yatra so far taken. It was held on the way under the tree. The Samaana Vidya Saadana Samithi manager Mr. Prabhakar participated in the discussions and given feedback / suggested having flags with decoration, ribbons for the yatra vehicles. He also suggested in yatra meetings or mike publicity in road circles all the leaders of yatra should speak not at one place but each one focus mainly on the district issues particularly new issues. Slogans should be given mainly on education. Demonstrate Kalajathas have to be given one or two times immediately leaders have to start speech, giving slogans taking aim of yatra to the people. Selection of place for meetings and mob gathering should also be taken as important. During the speech giving by the leaders voice should reach people and also identify the meeting venue and centers.
Mr. Savio Charles: He said to focus on local issues also and taking demands of yatra. He suggested better to meet with press people by each individually. Display mainly flags and banners during the yatra period. Each should give slogans related to yatra objectives he added.
Mr. K.V. Ramana, RPD Convener: He asked the team by the experience of 2 days changes would be taken for taking yatra ahead/further.
Kadapa district:
Yerraguntal: The RIPE welcomed yatra team at yerraguntla in kadapa district. The meeting was organized at cross roads circle in erraguntla by Mr. Ayyalaiah of RIPE involving CPI, CPM, SFI, AISF, Local NGO’s, KVPS, CITU leaders. Mr. K.V. Ramana RPD convener spoke about the existing situation of schools and government social welfare hostels in the district is horrible with lack of minimum needs. RPD co convener Mrs. Lalithamma expressed though kadapa is Chief Minister’s native district no development has been done in education, health and employment sectors. People are not getting employment opportunities as well as schools are lacking with minimum facilities.
Mydukur: At Mydukur bus stand given speech through mike on aim and objective of yatra. Distributed pamphlets and the leaders spoke on mainly the existing problems in government social welfare hostel at Mydukur.
Porumamilla: In third day the yatra team reached and distributed pamphlets in jathara at mandal head quarter. The leaders spoke on minority issues.
In the next day morning the rally was held and focused on dalith issues in their speech. Where the dalith community is more in the mandal are not developed even not given any priority in NREGS scheme and not providing employment complaint by the public to the yatra team. The RPD assured to support them who are un-availed justice are asked to fight against with the government for justice.
Kadapa: The rally was held in district head quarter for nearly 4 kms in cross road and publicity given through mike and later on conducted meeting at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Satue. During the meeting the RPD leaders told that in kadapa district 45 Govt. School have been closed by showing the cause of below 10 students in the school and also few more schools are going to be closed which are less than 20 students they said. Related to farmers condition in the district their condition is not justified / horrible. Since 2004, 65 farmers have committed suicide as they were unable to loan preserve either from money lenders or commercial banks. In this regard thorough yatra aware the people on their issues by pressure the govt. aiming at prepare them to questioning the government.
Ramapuram Rayachoti: In Ramapuram village and Rayachoti mandal head quarters the leaders spoke through mike on the issues. The leaders called the public for implementation of CSS by questioning the government and strengthening of government schools.
Peddamandyam, Chinnamandyam: In both mandals local NGOs, Student Unions received yatra team by welcoming and organized rally & meeting. The people brought to yatra team that due to the closing of governments schools in remote villages. The children are out of school.
Chittoor District:
Thamballapalli: After yatra team reached mandal head quarter welcomed by students, Student unions, Telugu youth, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar youth sangas under the able leadership of PORD organization. The mega rally took for 3 kms in the town by using dappus, performing kalajathas. RPD convener Mr. K.V. Ramana speaking that the mandal is backward in all fields due to the sever drought, migration, poverty and factions. No proper roles, existing drinking water problem and no proper employment opportunities for the people in the mandal he added. He called the gathering to get ready for questioning the government on the existing issues in the mandal. In which Mr. Savio Charles of Samaana Vidya Saadana Samithi, PORD Director Mrs. Lalithamma, RPD members, Local youth leaders, Students, PORD village level sangas have participated.
Angallu: At angallu town the leaders spoke through mike. Pamphlets distributed at center where public gathering is more and mainly focused on CSS taking to the people.
Madanapalli: The yatra reached Madanapalli where DBSU, FORD sangas, Ambetkar statue, AITUC, CPI, and CPM received and welcomed the team. The meeting held at madanapalli bus stand circle the leaders expressed that in the western part of chittoor district particularly in madanapalli division. Drought prevails / occurs continuously causing the families migrating to the cities like Delhi, Puna, Calcutta, and Bombay for searching for employment.
Punganur: Held yatra meeting at mandal head quarter where RPD leaders were speaking the punganur is famous for tamarind business in south India. Where the labours are not getting proper wages and demanded to pay equal wages to agriculture labours as well as women workers.
Pedda panjani: At mandal head quarter leaders of RPD expressed from yatra vehicle. They said that still some of the mandal villages are not access to education, health and employment facilities / opportunities. For medical treatment the villagers use to go from 20 to 45 kms and also the schools condition and its buildings is horrible.
Palamaneru: When yatra reach palamaneru great welcome given by MASS sangas, STU Union leaders, Chittoor Agricultural labour union nearly 1800 people have been participated. The rally took for nearly 5 kms by participating big mass and performing kalajatha. The leaders of RPD called the gathering to fight against privatization of education which becomes a business and participate in this movement. They also spoke on midday meals programme which is not implementing properly and still prevailing discrimination. They asked the public to come forward in the movement for the implementation of CSS. In this programme Mrs. Sunanda of MASS, Mr. Ganta Mohan STU district president, STU leaders, Mr. Mosus, Mr. Narayana, Mr. Subramanyam, Agricultural labour union leaders of Chittoor dist, RPD leaders and SCV leaders participated.
Bangarupalem: At bus stand circle where the people gathering leaders of RPD spoke from yatra vehicle. They asked the gathering need to develop education, health and employment sectors with the participation of community by pressure the government. They demanded government to solve the existing problems / gaps in previous year Bangarupalem.
Chittoor: The rally held at district head quarter took for 4 kms and the leaders expressed at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar statue where held public meeting. They mainly demanded on Employment Guarantee Scheme for proper implementation without giving any scope for corruption and giving contract. The poor people are not benefit out of it. So that government has to respond and do the justice they added. Many government social welfare hostels are running in the rented building in the district which are lacking with drinking water facilities, toilets, inadequate buildings. They demanded the government to respond immediately on the issue. The government schools are lacking with inadequate buildings in rural areas and unequal of children at teachers ratio. If the CSS implements, all the children access to education they said.
Puthalapattu: At mandal head quarters the leaders spoke from the yatra vehicle and they mainly focused on dalith issues. Since the majority of committee of daliths in the mandals who are depressed in socially, politically and economically. In this regard they called daliths to come and struggle for the rights.
Pakala: The RPD leaders given speech that due to the government schools closed in the villages showing the cause of less than 10 children in the school resulted the children becomes child labours and also the girl children looking their younger siblings at home. Pakala is the center for Mango Marketing where more mango gardens are existing. The yanadis goes for watching mango gardens on less wages and taking the children along with them for 3 to 4 months. During the time the children are out of school and loosing opportunity to go to school. They also expressed that there is a need of CSS implementation through which the poor children will access to education.
Chandragiri: The rally was welcomed by the SSS & Dalit organization, Local leaders held at Chandragiri town for nearly 4 kms by participating SCV Sangas, AP Dalith movement, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar sangas with kolatam and dappus using and holding RPD flags. At bus stand circle the leaders expressed that the government attitude is not agreeable with regard to education and health sectors. Though the MLA of chandragiri is a present minister for health is not taking any interest on development of education and health sectors. Under Arogya Sree Scheme the eligible poor people are not selected and the upper class community is availing and benefit from the scheme. It clearly shows that the scheme is not meant for the poor but it is for upper class community - they added.
Tirupati: The yatra reach Tirupati and rally started from SV University under the SSS Sangas, Dalith organizations, SCV sangas and PRAGATHI sangas and on the way after garlanding to Jyothi Rao Poole, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar statues, the leaders spoke from mike that no opportunities is providing to all in government schools, TTD schools and TTD training centers. No standard is maintaining in those institutions shortage of teachers is the major problem in the schools. They also express totally 160 government schools are closed in the district showing the cause of below 10 children. Resulted many children are out of school and leads to become child labours. Chittoor districts where many schools are closed comparatively other districts in AP. The government is to plan to close 6500 schools in the state by showing the cause less than 20 children in the school. If it implement by the government, more effect to Chittoor district and poor loosing education opportunity they said.
With regard to farmers since 2004 to till today 78 farmers were committed suicide due to the loss in agriculture and loan burden. Due to the government policies against to the public farmers, agriculture labours, daliths and tribes are thrown out to economic crisis.
Renigunta: At mandal head quarters the SCV mandal committees, SCV sangas, CPI, AITU sangas received and welcomed the yatra team and held meeting at Bus stand circle. The leaders of yatra told the poor are not access for land, house sites in the mandal due to the negligence of government. Thousands of acres occupied by the big people and in the hands of government resulted the poor not able to get even house sites they added.
Yerpedu: The SCV mandal committee, SCV sangas, students, CPM, CITU, SFI, leaders have received and welcomed yatra team. The yatra leaders told at bus stand circle that the lands of daliths given by the government is in the court. Many yanadi colonies are not access to education facilities causing the children becomes child labours. The leaders called the public to involve / participate in the movement on education and health issues.
Sri Kalahasti: AP yanadi sangam, Students, Girijana Ikya vedika received the yatra team with welcome and at the meeting held at kalahasti high school ground. Where the students and teachers have pledged to participate in the programme / movement till the government implements CSS. They told unless and until CSS implements the tribes are not access to education.
B.N. Kandriga, Varadaiah palem: Under RDP and RDP sangas welcomed the yatra team and the rally took for nearly 3 kms. During when the leaders expressed that due to the SEZ existence in B.N. Kandriga, Varadaiah palem and satyavedu mandals many families are loosing lands and become landless and facing unemployment problem they added.
Nellore District:
Tada: Under Simhapuri Praja Dwani received the yatra team at Tada mandal head quarter. During when mainly discussed about schools issue in the mandal. The fishermen brought to yatra team about the schools facilities / condition in the mandal mainly fishermen children are becoming child labours as there is no school facilities in their villages and the schools are existing far off from the villages. They demanded the government to establish schools in fishermen villages.
Sullurupet: A mega rally was held at mandal head quarter with a big mass and the leaders expressed that in sullurupet constituency education, health and employment sectors are not access to the people. In Primary Health Center the doctors and staff are not available and shortage of staff is also a problem to the PHC level. They demanded to fulfill the gaps in PHC and provide the health facilities to all.
D.V. Satram, Ojili, Chilakuru: The rally took and meeting held at D.V. Satram where the leaders spoke about schools, Anganawadi centers are not existing in Yanadi centers. Due this reason still the yanadies are not aware on health resulted suffering from diseases, happening lactating mothers and children death. They demanded to increase the staff in the hospitals, establish anganawadi centers and improve the mother and child health, providing nutrition food.
Naidupet: Under the able leadership of CDP the rally was organized and the leaders expressed on government negligence in education and health sectors. Causing the poor and backward community is not access to avail health and education facilities and use to go for private hospitals. Sometimes, due to the unavailability of health facilities happening death incidents in yanadi centers. In this connection they called for support of public to achieve the issues.
Gudur: The RRDS received and welcomed the yatra team and held rally meetings at bus stand circle. The leaders spoke that the poor people are loosing lands because of special economic zones existence. Resulted the labours not getting employment and migrating to other places. The NGO’s, Teacher unions, Mr. Jogi Masthanaiah Ex-MLA, Lokasatha party, BSP party, IITUC, Student unions given their solidarity by participating in this movement.
Yatra closing meeting at Nellore: On the last day of yatra a mega rally was held in Nellore town for nearly 4 kms on the occasion of closing yatra and conducted meeting. In which RPD committee leaders (5 districts), Simhapuri Praja Dwani, Locan NGO’s, Student unions, CPI, CPM, JVU, Yanadi Sangas, Local Praja Sangas, CDP Sangas have participated and submitted memorandum to the joint collector for implementation of CSS and preventing corporate / concept school system.
In the meeting the leaders have spoke till today in the country more than 50% of children are out of school. Even 10% of schools going children are studied up to college level education due to the poverty and social depression. To overcome the issue, the people, democratic followers, organizations have tried and taken initiation. But at present due to the government policies against to the public opinion education becomes commercial and the poor children are not access to the higher education.
In this regard the government has closed 53 schools in Nellore district showing the cause of below 10 children in the school and in Rayalaseema Districts (including Nellore) totally 342 schools have been closed so far. The government has planned to close 1200 schools in the Rayalaseema Region with the reason of less than 20 children. In this regard through yatra the Samaana Vidya Saadana Samithi and Rayalaseema Praja Dwani aware the people on the issue of CSS implementation. Thus the yatra successfully completed with the cooperation and coordination of Media (Print & Electronic), local NGO’s, peoples organizations, Student unions, Teacher unions and Public.
