Press Releases Archive

The Lok Satta Party today enjoys people’s admiration and appreciation because it does not stray from its core ideology and philosophy even in times of crisis but translating it into vote remains an uphill task, said its President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today.

“The future belongs to us but we can realize it with sustained struggle and not wishful thinking,” Dr. JP told party leaders in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

Dr. JP recalled how the Lok Satta’s 14-year-old campaign for empowering local governments is about to become a reality with the Government of India and political parties arriving at a broad consensus on making Constitutional amendments.

Dr. JP pointed out that it is easy to transplant technology but difficult to replicate institutional reforms. It took 26 years even in a country like the U. S. to institutionalize TV debates among Presidential aspirants.

The Lok Satta President underlined that India has the demographic advantage and technological resources to leap forward economically in the next one decade. The Lok Satta has to provide the platform and compass for ushering in the certain change.

Dr. JP called upon party workers to undertake a mass contact program to educate and enlighten people on the desirable and feasible changes in the polity. Now that Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections are out of the way, they should identify people’s problems and strive to resolve them.

Party Election Authority Chairman V. Ramachandraiah, Great Hyderabad unit Incharge A. B. Prathap Reddy, M. Ramalinga Reddy and A. B. Srinivasa Reddy were among those who took part in the event.

Lok Satta Party units in districts will undertake a random survey of elementary schools to ascertain to what extent the Andhra Pradesh Government has taken steps to implement the Right to Education Act which came into force this year.

The Act provides for free and compulsory education to all children in the 6-14 age group from Classes I to VIII.

Mr. V. Laxman Balaji and Mr. V. Vijayender Reddy, General Secretary and Secretary of the Lok Satta Party said in a statement that civic society would have to share the responsibility with the Government in making the Act a success since the future of the country depends on the toddlers in schools today.

The Lok Satta teams will examine whether the schools have the basic infrastructure like buildings, toilets and drinking water facility and adequate number of qualified teachers and whether they are accessible to students in both urban and rural areas. The Act provides that even private schools have to set apart 25 percent of their admissions for children belonging to the disadvantaged sections.

Once the party receives the survey reports in the next fortnight, the Lok Satta units will adopt some schools and provide the missing amenities. Meanwhile party workers will join hands with Government officials and NGOs to ensure that all eligible students are enrolled in schools.