Increased efforts to improve the lot of girijans by developing human development indices will be the only fitting tribute to Alluri Sitarama Raju, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member B.V. Raghavulu has said.
Addressing the 119{+t}{+h}birth anniversary of Sitarama Raju organised by Veluvolu Trust and A.U. Centre for Alluri Sitarama Raju History and Tribal Studies here on Sunday, he said uniting the most backward girijans against the might of the British was his most significant achievement.
But the tribal areas and North Andhra continued to be backward with paddy productivity at 20 tonnes as against 44 tonnes in Nellore, literacy rate at 44 per cent in the tribal areas as against 52 in the developed areas, and infant mortality at 44 for 1,000 in the State, 12 in Kerala, and 58 in North Andhra.
Mr. Raghavulu expressed apprehension that North Andhra and Rayalaseema might continue to be backward even in the bifurcated State with the entire concentration of the government on the new capital at Amaravati.
Paying tributes to Alluri Sitarama Raju and freedom fighters such as Sivaji, Bhagat Singh, Tippu Sultan, and Subhash Chandra Bose, MLC and GITAM University president M.V.V.S. Murthy said all of them fought for the freedom of the country, and to make them an inspiration for the younger generation the AU centre should bring out publications on them.
CPI State assistant secretary J.V. Satyanaryana Murthy regretted that Alluri Sitarama Raju did not get due recognition at the national level. He reiterated the demand that Visakhapatnam be named after Alluri Sitarama Raju.
Andhra University Registrar V. Uma Maheswara Rao narrated the life and rebellion of Alluri Sitarama Raju and said that the centre would carry out comprehensive research on him.
Director of the centre G. Jaikishan sought the support of all concerned to get UG recognition for the centre launched in January 2016 so that it could get a grant of Rs.50 lakh a year for five years to carry out its work.
Veluvolu Trust managing trustee Basavapunnaiah said that the statue of Alluri Sitarama Raju was set up on the Beach Road in 1985 with NTR laying the foundation.
Poets K. Siva Reddy and L.R. Swamy were felicitated on the occasion.
