We will be paying a real tribute to Baba Saheb B. R. Ambedkar only when we provide quality education to all irrespective of the accident of their birth in a particular caste or religion, said Surajya Movement Convener Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan here today.
Dr. JP was addressing a large gathering of students and youth on the second day of the Jana Chaitnya Deeksha launched by the Steering Committee of the Surajya Movement at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park.
Speaking after garlanding a portrait of Dr. Ambedkar on his death anniversary, Dr. JP said the architect of the Indian Constitution visualized caste barriers breaking down and everyone becoming self-reliant once every child is provided quality education. We have dashed Dr. Ambedkar’s dreams going by an OECD survey of educational standards of 15-year-old students in 74 countries. India is ranked as the 73rd and China as the first among the countries. Although the Government spends Rs.18,000 per student per year on school education, their standards are abysmally poor. Education in private schools is no better although even poor parents spend a disproportionate amount of their incomes on admitting their wards in them. Education should enable every student to compete with the son of a Collector or the daughter of a Minister in real life. Eighty percent of students who come out of colleges are unemployable.
One of the aims of the Surajya Movement is provision of good education to everyone, Dr. JP pointed out and added that politicians would buy votes or shower sops but not talk about quality education during electioneering.
The Surajya Movement would like to see citizens get basic services as a matter of right. Citizens should be compensated if there is delay in provision of services in the stipulated period and the guilty officials penalized. It wants a strong and independent Lokayukta at the State level to eradicate corruption and devolution of 10 percent of the State budget to village panchayats and municipal wards. In a State which has an annual budget of Rs.1.5 lakh crore, allocation of Rs.15,000 crore to local governments is not a big deal. Citizens need not run after legislators and officials for basic needs like drinking water and street lighting if they there is devolution of funds on local governments.
As on the first day, people from diverse walks of life and leaders of various political parties visited the camp and pledged their support to the Surajya Movement.
Addressing the gathering Mr. K. Taraka Ramarao (KTR), MLA of the TRS, said ideological differences should not prevent people from fighting shoulder to shoulder on basic issues which have a bearing on people’s welfare. He lauded Dr. JP for his ‘wonderful work’ in bringing leaders of different parties onto the Surajya platform to fight for certain core demands.
KTR recalled that he had taken part in the Surajya Movement the day it was launched on August 9, because he subscribed to its demands. The educated should take part in politics because politics and government affected every aspect of citizens’ life. He endorsed the demand for electoral reforms and decentralization of powers.
KTR expressed the hope that Dr. JP would support the Telangana demand at the all-party meeting g convened by the Union Home Minister for December 28 since it is in pursuance of decentralization of power.
Dr. N. Tulasi Reddy, Congress party spokesman and Chairman of the 20-Point Implementation Committee, commended Dr. JP for launching a movement to awaken the public.
CPI (M) leader Mr. YV Rao, Revolutionary Socialist Party leader Janaki Ram, Corporators from Kukatpally Assembly Constituency came and expressed their whole-hearted support to Surajya Deeksha.
Leaders of journalists – Devulapalli Amar, K. Srinivasa Reddy and A. Somasundaram – pledged journalists’ support to the Surajya Movement.
Among others who expressed their solidarity with the movement were Tripuraneni Hanumana Chowdary (Pragna Bharati), Shetkari Sanghatana, AP Representative Venkata Reddy, State Coordinator of ‘Khaza’ Premkumar, State Coordinator of Jai Bharath Loknath, Swadesh Jagaran Manch leader Narasimha Naidu, Samata Hizra Rights United Forum leader Vijaya Kumar, India Against Corruption representatives Hanumanthu Yadav, Rajesh, Citizen Activist from Chennai Satya Prasad, Youth benevolent Jampanna, I-Focus Representatives.
Messrs Karthik Chandra, Hyma Praveen, K.Srinivasa Reddy, D.Somasundar, Solipeta Ramachandra Reddy, Chennamaneni Rajeswara Rao, DVVS Varma, Kaki Madhava Rao, S.Manorama, P.Annapurna, MVS Raju, Prof. Anwar Khan, Dr. Rao Chelikani, Ramakrishnam Raju, Saroja and Vardhani joined Dr. JP in his fast on the second day.
Singers Vangapandu Prasada Rao and Srikant and their teams rendered patriotic and Surajya songs.
