Amalapuram protest demands rollback of PPP in medical colleges

Amalapuram – Andhra Pradesh: Leaders of various people’s organizations staged a protest at Kamanagaruvu Medical College on Monday, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the state government’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy for medical colleges. Later, they held a dharna at the District Collector’s office and submitted a petition to Joint Collector Nishanti, urging completion of the college at the earliest.

Protest against privatization

The Medical College Anti-Privatization Struggle Committee, supported by leaders from political parties and public organizations, raised strong objections to the PPP model. They alleged that privatization of medical colleges would weaken government hospitals and deny poor and middle-class students access to medical education.

Concerns over PPP policy

Speakers criticized the coalition government for handing over public-funded infrastructure to private companies at cheap rates. They said the PPP move was unprecedented in the country and part of a larger agenda to privatize the health sector. Leaders also accused the government of misleading people by claiming that only structures, not institutions, were being privatized.

Voices of protest

Among those who spoke were CPM District Convener Kaarem Venkateswara Rao, CPI former District Secretary K Satthibabu, PDSU State Vice President Revu Tirupati Rao, KVPS District Convener Shetty Battula Tulasi Rao, CPI District Secretary Deva Rajendra Prasad, UTF District General Secretary NTV Subbarao, Dalit Sri Shakti Mahila Sangham leader Konki Rajamani, BSP leader Polamuru Mohan Babu, and Civil Rights Association State leader Amala Dasu Babu Rao. They expressed concern that the PPP policy tied up valuable public money with private players while depriving marginalized students of opportunities in medical education.

Need for strengthening public health

Leaders pointed out that about 30 to 50 percent of construction for some medical colleges was already completed with central and state government funds. They argued that allocating Rs 5,000 crore at once or Rs 600 crore annually in the state budget could help complete the projects within five years. They stressed that human development was possible only when education and health remained under government control.

Call for wider public movement

Speakers called on political parties, intellectuals, students, and youth to intensify resistance against the PPP policy. They appealed to the public to unite and protect medical colleges as people’s property.

Petition submitted to JC

Following the protest and dharna, the leaders submitted a memorandum to Joint Collector Nishanti, reiterating their demand for cancellation of the PPP model and immediate completion of Kamanagaruvu Medical College for public use.