Emotional scenes mark Sharmila Yatra

On the second day of her Maro Praja Prasthanm,
Sharmila and other YSR Congress leaders witnessed emotional scenes when she had
met with a tenth class boy who was herding his cattle en route her Padayatra on Friday.

The boy Siva, son of M. Siddaiah of Kattuluru,
is a student of Pamuluru and had explained to Sharmila his family’s
problems.  During the brief but emotional
encounter, Siva said he wanted to go to school but couldn’t as he had taken
upon himself the responsibility of herding the cattle following indisposition
to his father.

“Father is down with BP and Sugar and couldn’t
do this work as there is no medicare for him. Mother is deaf and there is no
food either to me or my cattle. My parents are not getting any pension. Father
once tried for bank loan but banks were unceremonious towards him,” he narrated
his story with tears rolling down his eyes.

A moved Sharmila consoled him and assured him
of help and support when YSRCP comes to power. “Do his tears lie? This teenage
boy is a glaring example of how the Government has dumped the poor families to
their fate and has failed on all counts,” she said, adding that Jagan assured
of introducing the ‘Amma Odi’ scheme which facilitates monthly payments of
Rs.500 to mothers who send their children to the schools.

Women meet Sharmila

Women of self help groups met Sharmila and
complained that they were forced to pay higher interest on their loans by the
Congress government. Some old women told her they were not getting pension for
the last three years while they got regular pension during the YSR regime.

At some places, Sharmila sat down on the road
along with some old women and interacted with them patiently trying to know
their problems. Some old women complained of lack of medicare for them. “I am
suffering from knee and joint pains and doctors suggested an operation but
officials said my health problem doesn’t come under Arogya Sri Scheme,” an old
lady told Sharmila. She assured them they would get a minimum monthly pension
of Rs.600 if YSRC comes into power and Jagan becomes the CM.

Sharmila also visited the Vempally Minority
Girls’ residential school and interacted with the students. After talking to
them, Sharmila demanded the Government to increase the mess charges to at least
Rs.40 a day.

(Updated on Oct 20,2012)