Press Releases Archive

Lok Satta demonstrates It is different

“It doesn’t matter which party comes to power. Our school continues to be in a pitiable condition.”

It was this remark of a woman attendant of the Government Primary School at Hydernagar in Serilingampalli Assembly constituency that inspired the Lok Satta to take up its renovation as a challenge. The attendant, Prameela, had remarked that she had seen politicians belonging to all hues visiting the school and promising its improvement.

The Lok Satta Party workers led by Mr. Katari Srinivasa Rao collected donations of Rs.60,000 and completed renovation by putting in 100 mandays of ‘shramdan’ in the last one month.

The parents and students celebrated the school renovation by inviting Lok Satta President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan as their chief guest today.

Dr. JP recalled the Lok Satta activists had visited the school as part of a survey to assess the condition of schools before they opened for the new academic year. He said that if every rupee of the Rs.25 crore the Government spends on schools in Greater Hyderabad is utilized properly, amenities could be provided in all schools in five years. Of the 18 lakh students in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, two-thirds go to private schools because the Government schools are devoid of facilities. In the Hydernagar school for instance, there is only one teacher and six volunteers for 250 students.

Dr. JP said traditional parties are not interested in making people self-reliant by providing them good education. “Politics won’t change as long as people exchange their votes for money. And there won’t be any improvement in your lives so long as politics do not change. Think of the future of your children before you cast your vote.”

Dr. JP also visited the ZP High School at Nizampet whose land has been occupied by some people with politicians’ blessings.

Saturday, July 4, 2009 - 19:03

Railway Minister promises tickets Without trains: Lok Satta

Making reservation of rail tickets hassle free without provision of adequate number of train services in tune with the burgeoning demand is of little consolation to passengers, commented the Lok Satta Party on the Railway Budget today.

Talking to the media, party spokespersons Katari Srinivasa Rao, V. Laxman Balaji and Mrs. K. Gita Murthy pointed out that Andhra Pradesh had suffered injustice once again in that there was no mention of the laying of new lines or funds allocation for the second phase of the MMTS in Hyderabad. The Railway Minister ignored the fact that the South Central Railway contributed a huge chunk of railway revenue. The Chief Minister washed off his hands off by writing a letter to the Railway Minister on what needs to be done to Andhra Pradesh while the 33 MPs belonging to the ruling party played no constructive role. If funds allocation to Andhra Pradesh continued at the present pace, construction of new lines and extension of the existing ones would take decades.

The Lok Satta leaders said that the so-called express trains in India run at a speed of 60 km an hour against 150 km in the developed world for want of track and signaling modernization.

They ridiculed the Railway Ministers claim of the plan to lay 3500 km of new railway track as courageous by recalling that the British rulers laid 40000 km of railway track in three years 160 years ago.

They, however, welcomed the proposals to develop 50 stations including Secunderabad, to improve hygiene and sanitation, concessions to women, the physically challenged and unorganized workers and reduction in the tatkal reservation charge.

Friday, July 3, 2009 - 19:48

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