Speakers at a farewell function to Praja Spandana president C.S. Rao on Saturday lauded his services to Visakhapatnam city during the last 12 years and more.
Presiding over the function, former Rector of Andhra University A. Prasanna Kumar said that Mr. Rao had proved that one need not hold any position or money to serve the society.
He would next concentrate on Hyderabad to where he was moving from the city of destiny and take the struggle to the rulers and bureaucrats, he felt. Former legislator K. Haribabu added that the octogenarian established that age also did not come in way of service.
Former vice-chancellor K.V. Ramana described him as an icon and recalled the fight he had launched for separate railway zone and for stopping a proposed commercial complex at the old jail land. “He is inflexible, fearless and should return to Visakhapatnam as early as possible to serve his home town,” he said.
Former MLA Manam Anjaneyulu Mr. Rao had a list of issues to fight for a generation and moved with the speed which people much younger could not cope with.
Elder brother of Mr. Rao, C.Sanyasiraju said Mr. Rao was bound to return to Visakhapatnam some time later as this was where he had his home.
CMR managing partner M. Venkata Ramana, Vijay Nirman chairman S. Vijaya Kumar, Prof. D. Visweswaram, Bata Ramarao, D.V. Ramarao, Bangarraju, Kootikuppala Surya Rao, Sekharamantri Prabhakara Rao and others spoke.
Later, Mr. Rao was felicitated by about 30 literary, cultural and service organisations in the city. Responding to the felicitation, Mr. Rao said he had high hopes on separate railway zone which could be achieved only through by bringing pressure on the government. Earlier, Kalavedika president Nanduri Ramakrishna who organised the programme, welcomed the guests.
Keywords: Praja Spandana, separate railway zone
