The Telangana government is celebrating 10 years of the formation of the state as ‘Telangana Rashtra Avatarana Dashabdi Utsavalu’. Deshapathi Srinivas, MLC and member of the Organising Committee of the celebrations, spoke to The Pioneer about public response to the events.
NAVEENA GHANATE
Q: Are the decennial celebrations successful?
People’s participation is a proper measure of the success of the decennial celebrations and the reception is immense. When we speak, people appreciate that there has been a lot of welfare and development. It is going well in all districts.
Agriculture event on Day 1 has been the highlight so far. A lot of farmers came at Rythu Vedikas and took part. Another is Cheruvula Panduga (Mission Kakatiya).
Q: What was the thought behind Ponds festival in summer?
Definitely it has been a success so far because who will have the guts to do Cheruvula Panduga (festival at ponds) in summer? There won’t be water in ponds in summer and in some places ponds are drained to catch fishes. We have to wait for rains.
Today majority of ponds have water in June. Some people without knowledge made comments like ‘How will you do without water?’. The point is ponds have been restored, linked with projects and even in summer there is water. It is symbolic.
Q: What is public reaction when you talk numbers and funds?
Every mandal got crores of rupees. Never has so much money gone into development of villages. There are slogans like AtmaNirbhar Bharat, ‘trickledown theory’, monetary breaks and benefits for corporations and that wealth will trickle down to everyone else. Here the opposite is happening. There is a lot of money going to people.
The money that has gone to mandal, farmers, which no one spoke about so far. When we take out a village as a unit and speak about the funds, people are surprised that we have spent so much on welfare. CM KCR is reviewing the events and is getting day to day information on events.
Q: What do you have to say about opposition criticism on spending Rs 100 crore?
We are entering the 10th year and it is a milestone as we fought for statehood and achieved it. We should create confidence among people about the work we are doing. So, everyday there is a discussion in every sector. Nowhere in India has so much development and welfare taken place. Opposition thinks there is a political benefit for the election.
It is better to talk about development done and get votes than create communal tensions among people. A government is keeping discussion on the works it has done. Discussion is good anyday. Opposition can prove us wrong.
Q What can we expect for finale?
The last day is Martyrs Day when CM will inaugurate the Martyrs Memorial. It is a memorial center and not stupa. It is a rare stainless structure. In the memorial, the Secretariat’s reflection is seen, which is symbolic. Because of the sacrifices of the martyrs, this administrative building is standing tall.
It has a theater, a meeting hall, a cafeteria, a place to offer tributes, gallery etc. It will reflect Telangana’s history. Theater will showcase Telangana history and film which is being readied. There will be artistes and others participating in the evening at the event.
