Dr. Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy (born July 8, 1949), popularly known as Y.S.R., is currently serving as Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He represents Indian National Congress party and was elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Pulivendula Assembly Constituency of Cuddapah District.

Dr. Reddy sworn in as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in May, 2004 after a whirlwind tour (known as Paada Yatra) of rural villages across the entire state, a year before the scheduled elections which were later preponed to an earlier date along with general elections to parliament. Many critics and followers acclaim his Paada Yatra played a crucial role in bringing Indian National Congress back to power in Andhra Pradesh after 9 years.

Dr. Reddy has been named as the most popular chief minister in the country[1]according to the India Today Mood of the Nation 2006 poll conducted nationwide.

Family background

Dr. Reddy, the eldest of five brothers, was born in Pulivendula, a small town in Cuddapah ditrict of Andhra Pradesh. He comes from a middle class family, which is in the service of public right from the beginning. Dr. Reddy was married to Smt. Vijayalakshmi in 1971 and is blessed with a son, Jagan Mohana Reddy and a daughter, Sharmila.

Education

Dr. Reddy is a medical science graduate from the M.R. College of Gulbarga, Karantaka, where he served as President of students union. He completed house surgeon from Sri Venkateshwara Medical College, Tirupathi, during which he was elected as leader of House Surgeon's Association in S V Medical College. Upon completion of his MBBS degree, he served as Medical Officer in Church of South India's Campbell Hospital in Jammalamadugu in the Diocese of Nandyal for a brief period. In 1973, Dr. Reddy established a 70-bed charitable hospital at Pulivendula in the name of his fath

r, Sri Y. S. Raja Reddy. The hospital continues to serve the poor to date. His family established one Polytechnic and one degree college in Pulivendula which were later handed over to the well-known Loyola institutions.

Political career

Dr. Reddy has an eventful 25 year political career to date. Dr.reddy started his career as samithi president and later served as a youth congress leader. In the ensuing elections in 1978, he won on Indian National Congress ticket at a young age of 28. He served as minister in Tanguturi Anjaiah cabinet for a brief period. Sensing a potential leader, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi entrusted him with Pradesh Congress Committee resident when he was 34 years old. Dr. Reddy represented Kadapa contstituency as Member of Parliament of India for four times and similar number of times as Member of legislative assembly of Andhra Pradesh from Pulivendula constituency. Dr. Reddy holds the record of being never lost an election.

Padayatra

Dr. Reddy, the then Leader of the Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly took up padayatra for 64 days in the summer of 2003 which strectched to an extent of 1500 km from Chevella in the Telengana to Itchapuram. He went to every nook and corner of the State relaying the message of Empathy for the struggling sections of soceity. His Yatra was well received across all sections bringing him close to the poor and rural people.

As Chief Minister

Dr. Reddy, after taking oath as chief minister, owed a lion's share of state's funds to agriculture. His decision of free power to farmers has become controversial. His policies always revolved around supporting argiculture by giving sops to small and marginalized farmers, along with building new infrastructure. First Two years of his tenure have seen a large sum of Rs.16000 Crore being spent for building irrigation projects. Dr. Reddy has given Andhra Pradesh a new face-lift with a pro-poor and pro-farmer as well as investor-friendly and mainly rural oriented policies.

Jala Yagnam

'Jalayagnam' has been implemented by Dr. Reddy as an election promise to the farmers of Andhra Pradesh to double the area under irrigation in five years. This project accords the highest priority for the development of irrigation infrastructure. It comprises of a number of irrigation projects, construction of new reservoirs and lift irrigation systems, and to divert water from major rivers through canals. Also it includes the linking up of two major rivers Godavari and Krishna rivers.

It comprises of 32 major and 17 medium irrigation projects, which are estimated to cost ex-chequer Rs. 65,000 crores to provide irrigation to an extent of 71 lakh acres besides stabilization of an existing ayacut of 36.0 lakh acres, while providing drinking water to a population of 1.2 crore and generating power to the tune of 2700 MW to meet industrial needs.

Harithandhra Pradesh

Dr. Reddy, in the capacity of Chief Minister, has waived arrears of power bills related agricultural consumption to the tune of Rs.1192 crore. Free power to farmers was introduced as another election promise, which is often criticized as impractical by many elites. However, the programme is still in implementation despite being a heavy budren to state's economy.

The state government has announced a Special Package of Relief & Rehabilitation for the distressed farmers, providing succour and financial relief for them. Aimed at economic empowerment of farmers, the State government has setup “ Agricultural Technology Mission” (ATM) with effect from 15th January 2006.

Indiramma programme

Indiramma programme - an acronym for Integrated Development In Rural Areas and Model Municipal Areas, seeking to achieve integrated development of the State was launched by Dr. Reddy on 30th March, 2006. Under the programme, the Government would lay roads, construct houses and classrooms, and take up other development programmes. This programme is estimated to benefit rural economy by improving the existing infrastructure.

External links

• Government of Andhra Pradesh - Official profile
• Government of Andhra Pradesh - Contact details
• YSR's official website
• http://www.rediff.com/election/1999/sep/07ysr.htmsv:Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia