A group of activists from Nalgonda in Telangana and Prakasam in Andhra Pradesh are planning to contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha elections with a view to highlighting issues of fluoride-hit areas in these regions.
Jalagam Sudheer, a US-returned software professional and native of Nalgonda district, said they have decided to file nominations from Varanasi and Amethi from where Modi and Gandhi are contesting.
"This is to highlight the plight of fluorosis victims and the unfulfilled promises announced by different governments for fluoride-hit Nalgonda and Prakasam districts,"Sudheer told PTI.
He said he along with Vadde Srinivas, a native of Prakasam, along with two more activists, working in flouride-hit areas and also fluorosis victims, will file the nominations from Varanasi and Amethi.
"We need local proposers for filing nomination papers and we are in talks with local Telugu organisations there (Varanasi and Amethi). We need 10 proposers for each candidate from the local constituencies," he said.
Sudheer returned to India in 2016 after working in the US for 15 years "to serve society."
He has been taking up problems in flouride-hit Nalgonda, affected by high groundwater fluoride concentration and also problems faced by people suffering from fluorosis, a crippling disease which affects bones and teeth due to excessive intake of fluorine-heavy water.
He has been taking up problems in flouride-hit Nalgonda, affected by high groundwater fluoride concentration and also problems faced by people suffering from fluorosis, a crippling disease which affects bones and teeth due to excessive intake of fluorine-heavy water.
"Along with some of my friends I visited fluoride-hit places and interacted withfluorosis victims.There is no special corporation for fluorosis victims," he said.
He said the Central government in 2007 had announced a Regional Fluorosis Research and Mitigation Centre for Nalgonda and a Detailed Project Report was also submitted.
"The state government, too, allocated eight acres of land. However, after initiating the process no one is taking responsibility to set up the centre and it continues to be neglected," he claimed.
They had submitted a representation to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on the matter.
"We requested TRS, BJP and Congress leaders and public representatives but they are not aware about the Research Centre.
I have also visited government offices in Delhi, but there is no progress and hence, we have decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections to highlight the issues," he said.
Sudheer further said they were finalising their plans on filing nominations.
"As per reports Rahul Gandhi is planning to contest from Kerala also, and once it is finalised we will go to Kerala and file nominations from there also," Sudheer added.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
