YSRCP Rallies Against Medical College Privatisation
The people of Andhra Pradesh have shown a massive public response to the debate over the proposed privatisation of newly established government medical colleges. A widespread signature collection drive, organized by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), culminated today with grand rallies across all districts, signaling strong opposition to the move.
The campaign’s success is seen as a historic achievement, as the party successfully gathered a massive one crore (ten million) signatures from citizens across the state.This large number reflects deep public concern about the future of affordable medical education and healthcare.The people feel that handing over these colleges, built with public funds, to private operators will make medical education inaccessible for students from middle and lower-income families.
The party’s leadership, including its State General Secretary, requested permission from the Director General of Police for vehicle rallies to transport these large petition boxes. The goal was to move the signed documents from district centers to the central party office in Tadepalli, near Vijayawada.
Throughout the day, all district headquarters saw massive rallies.These events were not just political gatherings but a powerful showcase of public anxiety and disapproval.Special vehicles, loaded with the petition boxes, became the focal point of the movement.Party leaders and activists led the convoys, with local citizens joining in to express their solidarity and protect the petitions, ensuring smooth transportation while cooperating fully with local authorities.
The atmosphere at these rallies was one of determination, with citizens underscoring the importance of government control over education and health sectors. The overwhelming participation suggests that the issue of medical college privatization has struck a chord with the public, transforming a political debate into a massive people’s movement.
The next crucial step is scheduled for December 18. Former Chief Minister and YSRCP President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, along with senior party leaders, plans to formally meet the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, S. Abdul Nazeer. During this meeting, the party will submit the one crore signatures, directly presenting the widespread public opposition to the Governor. The submission is a crucial move to highlight the concerns about the current government’s policy decision on the medical colleges. The party intends to brief the Governor on the entire public movement and the potential negative impact of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model on essential services.
This movement has successfully brought the focus back onto public-funded infrastructure and the accessibility of quality education. It has demonstrated the power of collective public action in a democracy, reminding everyone that citizens’ voices remain the ultimate force in shaping policy decisions. The state awaits the Governor’s response and the next phase of this intense political and public debate.
