The tragic death of Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy comes as a bolt from the blue. Dr. Reddy known for his daredevil attitude will be remembered by the eight crore people of Andhra Pradesh, for his revolutionary welfare schemes for the BPL families – housing under a scheme ‘Indiramma’, free treatment for major diseases in corporate hospitals under ‘Arogya Sri’; supply of rice at Rs.2 a kilo, loans to poor women at 3% interest rate, pension to the aged people, etc. The massive irrigation project “Jalayagnam” is Dr. Reddy’s initiative, to bring 73 lakh acres of land under irrigation particularly in backward and drought prone areas. A special mention must be made of his dynamic efforts to provide 4% reservation for the Muslims in educational and employment spheres. He introduced a fee reimbursement scheme for the minority community students studying in professional courses. The real reverence to the departed leader would be done, if only all his endeavours are taken forward in the years to come.
Syed Sultan Mohiddin
Kadapa, A.P.