Friday is a much-awaited day for the poor in Andhra Pradesh. They rush to the State capital, Amaravati, from far-flung corners of the State. Entry passes to the State Secretariat are issued in big number on Friday so that they don’t have to wait for long to meet Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu.
The Chief Minister has fixed Friday to meet the poorest of the poor and listen to their grievances and help tide over their woes. The day is aptly described as the “Day of Helping Hand”.
“The Pada Yatra he undertook before elections deeply impacted our leader and brought a big change in him towards the poor. After taking charge as Chief Minister of the new State with huge revenue deficit, Naidu is generously helping poor people suffering from critical ailments, to the maximum extent possible,” Minister for Water Resources Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao told The Pioneer, after he handed over two cheques of Rs 5.3 lakh and Rs 3.80 lakh respectively to beneficiaries. The amount came from Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Thirty-four-year-old Anchula Suresh of Nandyala town, having a serious heart condition, is one such beneficiary. The Chief Minister has promised him to bear medical expenses for his treatment.
Another beneficiary, Kiran, who belongs to BPl category and has to look after an aged mother, wife and three children, has to undergo heart transplant. Battling for survival, Kiran has approached the Chief Minister after hearing of his generosity in helping the poorest of the poor. Kiran has met the Chief Minister with his family. After listening to his woes, the Chief Minister has immediately sanctioned Rs 15 lakh and promised total support till Kiran recovers.
Tejaswini, a 12-year-old girl suffering from Thalassemia, of Pamudurti Village of Anantapur district, met Naidu along with her parents. Hearing of her financial woes, Naidu has granted the girl Rs 3 lakh.
Nurjahan of Guntur town is suffering from a rarest of the rare disease ‘Congenial Scoliosis’. Naidu has granted her Rs 3.5 lakh for treatment. ‘May Allah bless you’, she has said thanking Naidu.
“Durgarao of Rajeswaripeta of Vijayawada lost his two hands in a fire accident 15 years back; he was just ten-year-old then. Naidu has granted him a Government job under sports quota as he is a good sportsman also”.
“The parents of baby Sudeepti of Vijayawada, who was born prematurely, did not have money to keep her in hospital for seven more weeks till she was fit enough to be discharged. Naidu has granted them Rs 5 lakh affter her parents narrated their plight to the Chief Minister”.
Battula Vijayalakshmi of Nandigama met with an accident in which bother he legs were crushed. Naidu has announced full medical help and gave her Rs 58,000 from his own pocket and sent her home in ambulance.
Shahini is HIV positive inherited from her parents who had passed away. She is living with her grandmother. The girl has approached the Chief Minister for help. After listening to Shahini, the CM has immediately sanctioned Rs 2 lakh and promised further medical support. Harini of Tirupathi got married to Pridhviraj in 2015. After her husband forced her to go abortion and kept torturing her, she started living in a working hostel on her own by doing a private job. When her husband continued to harass her, Harini met the CM and sought police help apart from divorce. The CM has directed officials to file a case in Women Commission, sanctioned Rs 2 lakh of financial support and gave her assurance for job.
M Ravi of Nirukonda Village of Guntur District is suffering from serious liver disease. Doctors advised liver transplantation for which they quoted Rs 28 lakh to save his life. After hearing his case, Naidu has sanctioned Rs 10-lakh financial support and directed officials to write a letter to the Corporate Hospital to bear the remaining expenditure under Corporate Social Responsibility.
G Suman, a 17-year-old boy, suffering from mental disorder and paralysis that tied him to wheel chair. His parents have registered a request for the CM’s help in Grievance Call Centre 11007-7709773. After scrutiny of his case, the officers have put the case before the CM. After meeting the boy, Naidu has sanctioned Rs 2 lakh and promised further help.
These are a few cases from the long list of people who benefited from generosity to the Chief Minister.