Archive: October 22, 2022

We Need Strong Opposition Both at the Centre and State, Emphasized Participants in Youth Parliament Held in the City

Hyderabad, October 22, 2022…..What are the major problems and issues confronting our states and centre now?

Is it Inflation?, Poverty?, Unemployment?, Corruption?, Illiteracy?, Pollution?

No, none of them. Though they are the problems, there is a big one. And that one is We need STRONG OPPOSITION a ROBUST OPPOSITION, both at Centre and States

We need UNITED, CONSTRUCTIVE, RESPONSIBLE OPPOSITION at this juncture. It is necessary for Democracy, BETTER GOVERNANCE, BETTER FUTURE, BETTER INDIA, and BETTER STATES, said participants who participated in the Youth Parliament.

City-based St Peter’s High School, Bowenpally organised a Youth Parliament at Malla Reddy Gardens in Bowenpally. It was a hybrid Youth Parliament. 62 students of the school donned the role of parliamentarians with their physical presence and 20 students from three different schools from three different cities appeared virtually. 42 were girls, giving more than 30% reservations, which is a long-felt demand. Children from schools in Jamnagar, Zikarpur and Jaipur participated virtually. The Mock Parliament lasted for one and a half hours. More than 1000 students witnessed it in person.

Prof Vijayalaxmi Bollampally, College of Law, Osmania University was the chief guest. She inaugurated it by lighting the lamp and also unveiled the List of Business of the Youth Parliament. Speaking on the occasion she said it was an important part of education. Students must know what is happening around them. For the good health of the country, we need a strong opposition both at the Centre and State.

The Parliament commenced with two members Mangilipally Anirudh and Bhuvanba Kruti, each from Mandya Constituency in Karnataka and Malkangiri in Telangana taking the oath.

It was followed by the President’s address. The house paid rich tributes to Bharat Ratna Late Lata Mangeshkar. The house observed one minute of silence in her honour. The members recalled her contribution to the entertainment industry in India.

Smt Nandini Sharma, who donned the role of Prime Minister, a girl in a green saree and yellow blouse introduced new ministers–Eshwar Choudhury, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Smt. Kshithi Kadapa, Minister of Culture.

Then began the question hour, which lasted for 45 minutes. There were 24 questions raised about all Ministries. The questions were well framed, crisp to the point and answered well.
Both the ruling and opposition benches were opposite to each other. All the parliamentarians were traditionally attired, and groomed well to the occasion. They have used a moustache on one boy to look elderly.

The first question was on Defence. The opposition member Sahasra Himachal asked
“Honorable Speaker, Ma’am, Question No 101, will the MINISTER OF DEFENCE be pleased to clarify my query. . Tejas which is India’s first Made in India fighter jet according to your latest report. I am informed that there are only 83 Tejas Fighter Jets, on the other hand, India imported more than 200 Sukhoi Fighter Jets from Russia. Why can’t India build its Fighter jets? Why do we always import Aircraft from Russia or France? Isn’t this contradictory to ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT and MAKE IN INDIA? And Will the MINISTER OF DEFENCE be pleased to share any such Make in India pursuits by the Indian Navy ?”

ANIRUDH BONDUGULAPATI student of 9th who was the defence minister answered at length and convincingly. The Members of the Treasury thumped in appreciation for the answer.

Like this 23 other questions went on.

250 students researched and applied to the Parliament committee on various subjects. From them, 75 students were picked to participate in the mock parliament.

Then a breach of privilege was moved, and papers were laid by a few ministers. Messages from Upper Chambers were carried out.

An Austrian Parliament delegation that was seated in the house was greeted and welcomed. One of their representatives responded. The Parliament gave assent to 14 bills which were tabled by the Secretary-General.

Smt. Rishika called the attention of Smt. Khanak Minister of Finance towards the JAN DHAN YOJANA SCHEME.

The house carried out Legislative business. Bills were introduced, moved for consideration, debated, voted and passed. A Bill on the Personal Data Protection Bil 2019 which was placed in the house was withdrawn by the IT Minister Shri Bitanu Roy to further amend it.

A motion of thanks on the President’s address was proposed. A Private Member’s Business was carried. Shri Adamya Vaid, Smt. Pranathi, Smt. Akula Anusha expressed concern at the growing student suicides in Higher Educational Institutions. They spoke at length with a lot of convincing facts and statistics. Following their address, Prime Minister Smt. Nandini Sharma, moved the resolution to initiate student mental health and well-being in Higher Educational Institutions for which all showed their consent by raising hands. Seeing the full support of the Honourable Speaker, Smt Suzanne granted the resolution.

The house adjourned.

Democracy and education as inseparably interconnected: Democracy is a basic value and must be practiced in education and education as a means to strengthen and sustain democracy.

Youth Parliaments are being organised by St. Peter’s High School educational institutions regularly. The most debatable subject in the country today is about eroding democratic values. It is being talked about everywhere that we need a strong democracy, both at the centre and state. The Parliamentarians who participated in the mock parliament echoed the same feeling.

ANIRUDH BONDUGULAPATI student of 9th who was the Defence Minister said, he felt powerful as he got to be a Defence Minister of India for two hours. I cherish this moment. Prime Minister candidate Nandini said she was excited about her role as Prime Minister. Every second of it I enjoyed and imagined Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Dr Suvarna, Principal of the school said, the objective of it was to make students understand the parliamentary procedure, and develop in students an insight into the working of parliament. and to make students consider current public issues and form their opinion on them.

The School’s Correspondent Mr.T.A.Reddy and Director Mrs.T.Aruna Reddy and others participated.

Then Best Parliamentarian awards were presented to the participants

Dr Chigurupati Nageswara Rao Rotary Dialysis Centre Inaugurated at Guntur

Guntur, October 22, 2022: Granules India Ltd. (GIL) and Rotary Club of Hyderabad Deccan, today announced the inauguration of a community-based dialysis center under the name of “Dr. Chigurupati Nageswara Rao Rotary Dialysis Centre” at St Joseph’s General Hospital, Guntur. The center was inaugurated by Dr. GN Rao, ophthalmologist and the founder of L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad along with Dr Krishna Prasad Chigurupati, Chairman and Managing Director, and Mrs. Uma Devi Chigurupati, Executive Director of Granules India. The Dialysis Centre will provide affordable dialysis services to needy patients of Guntur, Prakasam Districts in Andhra Pradesh, and border areas of Nalgonda, Miryalaguda of Telangana. The center will be managed by the St Joseph Hospital with the support of the Red Cross Society, Guntur.

Dr GN Rao said, The Economist in one of its recent issues said, we live in a fragile world, because of climate control, energy and economic crisis, over hundred countries around the world being in a desperate situation, nearly 2 bn people are starving in the world of which one fourth are in India, pandemics, with more expected, all these and more which is the current global situation. In such circumstances, we need to bravely and with determination face several crises. Among all these, health issues look minor, the other sad thing is the allocation towards healthcare from governments is on the decline every year. In this situation, it is essential that whoever can donate should come forward to help improve the healthcare facilities. For this, several others like Uma and Krishna Chigurupati should come forward. Both of them believe that the greatest joy is in sharing with others and have been contributing to several needy causes and appreciate them for that. I left Guntur exactly 52 years ago after my completion of MBBS, but have been visiting Guntur frequently. The reason for my being here is Dr. Chigurupati Nageswara Rao Garu, who was our neighbor and for all our medical needs he was there for us. That time bonding in the community was different. Even Doctors in private practice used to serve the poor, at free cost, in fact, used to pay from their pockets for the medicines of such patients. Even today half the population can’t afford two meals a day, how can they afford healthcare needs, if we ignore them ultimately it will be our problem. I always tell people undergoing training at our institute that during our training at the medical colleges, we got trained by treating poor people, therefore we are indebted to the poor of India and we should give back to them, once we are established in our practice. We need to strive towards excellence in centers like the one we set up here, today. There are enough people in the country who can afford to pay a little bit more, they can afford to take care of the people who cannot pay anything. Today, this center has been started and that is the easiest part of it, but the challenges begin now, with problems of maintenance, quality etc., so we need to focus on them as well, because that is the difficult part of the entire thing. Today, several post graduates are being churned out, without proper training and that can lead to a deficiency in healthcare services. The most important thing we need to do today is to train our doctors and nurses well or else the best of the infrastructure we create will not help us to improve the healthcare services.

Dr. Krishna Prasad Chigurupati said, it’s a great day and it’s like a homecoming to me today. I am becoming nostalgic about my childhood days, till 22 years of age grew up in Guntur, after that I don’t think I ever came for more than ten days to this place. I was recollecting this campus every inch of it and can remember where my classroom was, I studied here from LKG to 2nd class, before I was kidnapped because it was a girl’s school. I still remember that I used to go to the church very often, take the holy water, and also used to play in the playground next to it, today as I walked in I realized that the playground was no longer there and a building has come up in its place, that takes away my memories. My father also used to operate here, those are great memories, it’s an honor to be here, associated with this institute. All of you are doing great work, you are doing a great service and nothing can be better than what you are doing. It gives me immense satisfaction to be amongst all of you today and thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your efforts. Dr G N Rao has created an iconic institution like none other in the world, all of us speak about LV Prasad Eye Institute doing a great service to society, helping the needy, helping humanity. The other side is, it’s a center of excellence, an institute that is recognized across the world. People I met in different countries, remarkably in Japan hold LV Prasad Eye Institute in the highest regard, and Dr GN Rao is god to them. It’s amazing to have such an eminent person with us today, he normally doesn’t come to functions like this, a very private person, but came for my father’s sake. Paying back to society is very close to our hearts and will do whatever we can within our limits, we don’t want to overstretch but continue doing this.

Mrs Uma Devi Chigurupati said, I am happy that today everyone, especially the youth, wants to give back to the society some way or the other. Rotary is one of the oldest organisations doing good to the world and appreciate their contribution to society, more organizations should emulate them. Dr GN Rao is known for his dedication, determination, and selfless service and people like him give the impetus to donors to come forward and contribute for society’s well-being. Starting this dialysis center in St Joseph’s Hospital, with which Dr. Chigurupati Nageswara Rao Garu was associated, is an honor. Deepavali is the festival of Joy and if we can bring light into the lives of some people through this Dialysis center, that itself adds to the joy. On behalf of Granules India, we are contributing back to society from within our means. Last year, Granules contributed Rs 10 CRS., towards various social causes associated with health, education, and skill development. During Covid second wave we donated Rs 8 crs., the worth of paracetamol to the state government. Among all the initiatives we are doing, one thing which is very close to our heart is skill development. We started Pharma Patashala in association with Swarna Bharathi Trust, for students who completed intermediate in science and can’t afford further studies. It is a state-of-the-art facility where we impart pharma skills to such youth, for three and half months, while ensuring all facilities for them during their stay. Senior employees of Granules impart these skills to the youth. This facility, a first of its kind in the country, trains in miniature-size bulk drugs, tablets, granulation, etc. These students are provided jobs after the training and are made a part of a ‘Learn while you earn program,’ were while working in the factory, they also complete graduation. Granules contributed Rs 1.3 crs., towards performing heart surgeries by Dr. AGK Gokhale at Guntur, earlier. Dr Chigurupati Nageswara Rao Rotary Dialysis Centre at St Joseph’s General Hospital, Guntur, will be functional from November 1st, 2022, offering dialysis services at affordable prices.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is the most common kidney-related ailment and involves the gradual irreversible loss of kidney function over the years. It is the 8th most common cause of death in India. CKD has reached a record high and epidemic proportions, particularly in Palanadu and Chimakurthy areas. The patients suffering from Kidney ailments from Palanadu region visit Guntur city by travelling at least 100 km for the treatment and must wait for their turn since the bed strength of the existing dialysis units is limited. The bed strength in Government hospitals can cater to limited patients from Macherla, Vinukonda and Chimakurthi. The treatment at private hospitals is unaffordable for most patients with each dialysis session costing a minimum of Rs 2500/- and three sessions in a week would cost up to Rs 7500/-, way beyond the means of the common man. Dr Chigurupati Nageswara Rao Rotary Dialysis Centre will serve needy patients who are unable to access affordable dialysis at currently.

The Dialysis center is opened in commemoration of Dr. Chigurupati Nageswara Rao, the first Chairman of GIL. He was a multi-faceted surgeon; his specialties included gastroenterology and urology. He was an active member of the medical fraternity and served as the Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Medical Council for 13 years until his retirement in 2007. Dr Nageswara Rao also served as a member of the Medical Council of India and led several studies to improve healthcare in the country. Dr Nageswara Rao was an honorary surgeon at Guntur Medical College where he taught surgery and served as a mentor to many physicians who continue to practice throughout the country.

Dr Nageswara Rao also served as a Director of Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd., India’s first public-sector drug manufacturing company. He was a prominent Socialist and was an active member of the Communist Party of India from the 1960s through the 1980s. During his time, he led several delegations of physicians to the USSR, China and East Germany, in order to share best practices. In addition, Dr Nageswara Rao was a syndicate member of Acharya Nagarjuna University in Guntur. During his fifty years of service to the community, he worked towards ensuring best possible medical care, especially for the impoverished sections of the society, pan India, by making healthcare affordable.

Commenting on the inauguration Dr Krishna Prasad Chigurupati, Chairman & Managing Director Granules India said, “My father was an icon who inspired the community at large besides being a huge inspiration to the family members. He always opined that the interventions we initiate should have a social impact, which can mitigate the challenges and ameliorate the lives of people across different strata of society. The Dialysis unit being inaugurated in his memory at St Joseph Hospital, I am sure will provide much-needed succor to several needy patients.”

Dr Krishna Prasad profoundly felt the need to contribute back to the community he hailed from, which gave him the impetus during his formative years and molded him into what he is today. Dr. Chigurupati Nageswara Rao Rotary Dialysis Centre is dear to him, as it espouses the very cause his father strongly believed in, serving the needy and vulnerable sections. It also has enormous significance for Dr. Krishna Prasad fact that Dr. Nageswara Rao devoted his entire life to urology and kidney-related ailments and this Centre continues to keep his memories afresh.

The Dialysis center will aid the poverty-stricken population of Guntur, Palanadu region having CKD. Guntur has a daily footfall of over 400 patients approaching the dialysis centers to take the necessary procedure. The cost involved in setting up these dialysis units is Rs. 2.1 crores of which Granules India contributed Rs. 65 Lakhs, Red Cross Society contributed Rs. 45 Lakhs and Rotary led by Rotary Club of Hyderabad Deccan and other philanthropists contributed Rs. 1 Crore.

GIL’s corporate social responsibility is focused on projects related to livelihood enhancement through skill development, promoting preventive health care etc., and has spent over Rs. 9.12 crore in FY 21-22. In the past, GIL partnered with Sahrudaya Health, Medical and Educational Trust and sponsored Open Heart Surgeries for patients who were unable to afford the costly medical and surgical treatment.

Safe Harbor

This document includes certain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological, and/or regulatory factors. Granules India Ltd., its directors, and any of the affiliates or employee is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.