Congress leaders including Members of Parliament Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh, Uttam Kumar Reddy, Telangana CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and former MP Madhu Yashki Goud on Saturday met with representatives from various diverse groups to discuss developmental challenges of Mahabubnagar district and also specifically education related issues that were of special concern.
These engagements are part of the ongoing interactions Congress leaders are having with diverse social, economic religious, ethnic and cultural groups during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Speaking at the meeting Professor Hargopal stated that the district was one of the most economically backward in the country, facing massive migrations. Despite the Krishna River flowing through Mahabubnagar, there was paucity of water for farming leading to extreme poverty and migrations. Despite earlier promises the Palamuru – Ranga Reddy project is yet to be implemented.
Mr R. Venkat Reddy stated that the state of Telangana was facing a huge education crisis. Public education was being deliberately undermined by cutting funding to government schools while encouraging the private sector. There was deliberate neglect of government institutions, forcing parents to send children to private institutions.
Ms Varsha Bhargavi spoke of how the state’s scheme of giving money to the parents of girls getting married was leading to a decline in their educational opportunities. It was proposed that the state should give the family an option to use the money for the girl’s higher education or marriage, as they chose.
Finally, Mr Divya Sai, a student, stated that there was a two year delay in fee reimbursement which had made it very difficult for economically challenged students to continue their education.
In response, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi thanked everyone for their time. He said that it was a tragedy that students were being forced to take up lower paying jobs instead of continuing their education. Gandhi said that he was “very clear that healthcare and education were the prime responsibility of the government and should not be left solely to private enterprises”. Done properly this can create large employment opportunities for people also in the fields of Education and Healthcare. Finally, he stated that the party would look into the Palamuru – Ranga Reddy project while preparing a course of action.
