Congress demands free treatment, rule of reservation in TTD institutions

Chinta Mohan. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Congress get together cadres led by former Union Minister Chinta Mohan staged a protest in entrance of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) administered Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) in Tirupati, on April 22, demanding free medical and surgical remedy for the poor and downtrodden sections, implementation of the rule of reservation for SC/ST and OBCs, and filling up of the backlog posts instantly.

Chinta Mohan noticed that when the SVIMS had slipped into monetary disaster, it was the UPA authorities that had launched a grant of ₹60 crore beneath the Prime Minister Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), as per which free remedy must be given to the poor and downtrodden. But, in actuality, this remained a far cry for 20 years. He demanded that the SVIMS must be run with the funds of the TTD and the Central authorities.

The Congress chief additional demanded that the rule of reservation for the SC/ST and OBCs as per the constitutional provision must be applied in the SVIMS Hospital and all different institutions of the TTD, other than filling up the backlog posts for these classes.

Chinta Mohan additional demanded that the outlets in Tirumala, which have been beneath the management of the TTD, must be allotted to the SC/ST and OBCs by following the rule of reservation. He deplored that it was unlucky that these underprivileged sections weren’t given their due share in the allotment of outlets on the hilltop temple city.

The Congres cadres had displayed banners and raised slogans in assist of their demands and submitted a memorandum to the SVIMS authorities. Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) secretary Yarlapalle Gopi Gowd, Party’s authorized cell president Ravi and others took half in the agitation.

Meanwhile, the BJP State secretary G. Bhanu Prakash Reddy in a press notice on Saturday alleged that the State governmnet had illegally occupied the TTD-run Sri Padmavathi Nilayam constructing close to Tirucharnur for Tirupati district Collector’s workplace by saying {that a} month-to-month lease of ₹21 lakhs can be paid to the TTD. Even after one yr of occupation, the TTD was unable to gather the rental of greater than ₹2.5 crore from the Collectorate. “Latest, the State government has mooted a vile plan to purchase the entire building for ₹100 Crore, and this would be opposed tooth and nail,” he mentioned.