Sharmila moved by fluoride spectacle

Nalgonda, Feb 11, 2013:
Striding through the fluoride-affected villages of Marrigudem Mandalam in
Nalgonda district on the 62^nd day of her Maro Praja Prasthanam on
Sunday, Smt. Y. S. Sharmila met with the fluoride victims for most part of the
day and assured them that YSR Congress Party would give top priority to solve the
issue when it came to power under the leadership of Sri Y. S. Jagan Mohan
Reddy.

Smt. Sharmila, who
became highly emotional and went into sobs after witnessing and learning the
adverse physical effects caused to the local people by the 7-decade old fluoride
problem, told them that Sri Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy would take steps to bring
Krishna water to the remaining 525 fluoride villages left over by Dr. YSR.

Local leaders
complained that many a leader used to come and go but did nothing to solve the
problem and better the people’s lives, except for Dr. YSR who brought Krishna
water to some of the affected villages.

“Dr YSR brought Krishna
water to 450 of the 975 fluoride affected villages by spending Rs.375 Cr but
still you have to get Krishna water to another 525 villages where almost a
fluoride victim is present in each house on an average,” she told the local
leaders, assuring them that Sri Jagan Mohan Reddy would complete the task left
midway by Dr YSR.

Witnessing the horrific
spectacle of men and women with twisted hands and legs and mentally challenged youth
before her and listening to the stories of teens stopping their studies and
attempts being made to commit suicides due to the fluoride problem, Sharmila
couldn’t control her emotions.

“I know about the
problem and its adverse effects through newspapers and TV channels. But, I didn't know the problem is this much severe,” she told the people at Sarampeta
Rachchabanda, with tears trickling down from her eyes.