The Andhra Pradesh Government bagging India Today’s ‘Best performing State in governance’ award is the biggest joke of the year, commented Lok Satta Party Vice President DVVS Varma on Saturday.
Varma said it was strange that India Today has chosen to confer the award on Andhra Pradesh in which the Cabinet has not been able to meet regularly, the legislature cannot conduct its sessions smoothly, employees have gone on long-drawn strikes, common man’s life has been disrupted and almost all key issues continue to remain unresolved.
“Absence of governance is perhaps tantamount to good governance in India Today’s assessment”, commented Varma wryly.
Varma pointed out that the Kiran Kumar Reddy Government which revels in announcing one scheme after another has miserably failed in implementing them. The Chief Minister who announced Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu scheme to boost his image by promising 15 lakh jobs to youth in three years has not been able to provide even four lakh ordinary jobs.
Varma asked whether the Chief Minister who talks of extending three percent and interest-free loans to self-help group women claim they have become economically self-reliant. Is he unaware of the plight of women who have become victims of microfinance institutions and their spouses to liquor addiction? He has not been able to fulfill his promise to provide bank loans to tenants. There is a wide chasm between Kiran Kumar Reddy’s promises and performance.
Varma said it is pertinent to point out that Union Rural Development Minister told the Chief Minister on his face that his Government has failed to devolve powers and resources on local governments.
To assert that a Chief Minister who does not draw a distinction between development schemes and populist sops has provided good governance is ridiculous, concludes Varma.