Dr.Y.S.Raja sekara Reddy
Dr.Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy was born on July 8, 1949, in Pulivendula in the backward Rayalaseema region. His father late Sri Y.S.Raja Reddy, who is also a dynamic leader. He studied in Bellary. He graduated with a degree in medical science from Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College (MRMC), Gulbarga University, Karnataka and completed his House Surgeonship at S.V. Medical College, Andhra Pradesh.Rajasekhara Reddy had interest in politics right from his student days. He was elected as President of the Students union and the leader of the House Surgeon's Association in S V Medical College, Tirupati.
For a short time Y.S.R served as a medical officer at the Jammalamadugu Mission Hospital. In 1973, he established a charitable hospital named after his father, late Y.S.Raja Reddy at Pulivendula. His family established one polytechnic and one degree college in Pulivendula, which were later handed over to the well-known Loyola group of institutions. YSR is married to Smt. Vijayalakshmi in 1971 and has two children Jagan Mohan Reddy and Sharmila.
In the year 1978, YSR entered in active politics and was elected to the state assembly from Pulivendula. Success followed throughout his life. Elected to the state Assembly for the fifth time, YSR is also a four-time Lok Sabha member and holds the record of never losing an election. YSR has served the people in multiple capacities, both in Government as well as in Party. He was President of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) in - 1983-1985 and 1998-2000. During 1980-1983, he was a minister holding important portfolios related to Rural Development, Medical & Health and Education etc. From 1999 to 2004 he was the Leader of Opposition in the eleventh state assembly. He has 25 years of service history which made him People’s Leader.
His active participation in struggle for the improvements in the field of agriculture cleared the irrigation issue in the backward Rayalaseema region. Surprise visits to villages for personal inspection of the conditions were a pass time of YSR.He led an indefinite hunger strike demanding solution to the water crisis. He also led a Paadayaatra from Lepakshi to Pothireddipadu in Kurnool district. The 14-day hunger strike of legislators under his leadership in August 2000 to register protest against the hike in power charges are made him to won the hearts of the farmers.
He was elected as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh by the Legislature party of the Indian National Congress after they later won 185 seats of the Legislative Assembly in the May 2004 elections. He initiated several programs that influence the Economy of Andhra Pradesh which includes free power supply for farmers, Jalayagnam — a large-scale program to construct more than 70 pending irrigation projects in the state to improve irrigation facilities to the farmers. The other programs include the controversial Rajiv Arogya Shree Program which is a health insurance scheme for rural masses where the government pays the entire price of any surgery up to 200,000 rupee and does not require people to pay any premium. Pavala Vaddi — a program that provides loans to people at 3% per year so as to encourage them to take up small scale businesses and entrepreneurship primarily targeted at rural women. Indiramma illu — a program for construction of houses for the rural masses by charging a small amount and the government the remaining amount, a Rs 2/kg rice scheme, reimbursement of full college fees for backward sections, reservations for minorities, and a huge loan waiver program for the farmers.
Dr.Y.S.Rajasekara Reddy died in a helicopter crash in the dense Nallamala forest on 3rd September 2009. His unexpected death is a great loss for Andra Pradesh. All the national leaders have expressed grievance on the death of Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy.
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