Andhra Pradesh Minister, and YSRCP member, Peddireddy, made a grand gesture by donating Rs. 100 Crores to the Chief Minister Relief Fund. A lot of publicity was also done in this regards, with every media house affiliated with the Andhra Pradesh government, covering this news, and hailing Peddireddy in the people’s eye.
However, what’s to be noted here is that the donation that Peddireddy made is not from his own pocket, and is in reality, public money. He donated Rs 10 Crores from his own pocket, while the remaining 90 Crores belongs to the public. This is something on the lines of one student praying to God that he’ll get the head of his friend tonsured if he passes an exam. Fact is, Peddireddy owns a lot of businesses and could have donated money from his own pocket, but chose not to.
The AP government is trying its best to get as many donations as possible this year, to battle with the second wave of coronavirus, by procuring enough vaccines and getting enough oxygen supply. During the first wave, a lot of donations were made to the CMRF, which seems to be all dried up, as it was used towards treating coronavirus patients last year.
The government planned to cut government employees’ salary this year and to use it as a form of a donation to the CMRF, but following severe backlash from all government employees, the AP government backed off from executing its plan.