A Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA from Andhra Pradesh’s Palakole constituency, slept, ate and even took a bath in the crematorium to drive away fear of labourers refusing to work there.
First-time MLA, Nimmala Rama Naidu, has been trying to undertake a modernisation project at the local crematorium, which was lying in shambles. He even recently got an amount of Rs 3 crore sanctioned by the government to construct a new crematorium in its place. But his efforts were futile as labourers were too scared to work fearing ghosts.
To dispell their fear, the MLA braved mosquitoes and stench of a nearby garbage dump for three days. He slept on a folding cot under the open sky and ate and bathed within the premises. His efforts paid off as at least 50 workers have started turning up for work regularly and the work on the modernisation of the place has begun.
The MLA's efforts earned him praise from Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of neighbouring state of Kerala. Mighty impressed, Vijayan called him a crusader against superstition. "TDP MLA Nimmala Rama Naidu deserves praise for spending a night at a crematorium where workers had refused to enter after dark to do modernisation work out of fear of 'spirits'. Rama Naidu is a crusader against superstition. He has decided to spend more nights at this crematorium in Palakole of West Godavari district to instill confidence among workers who are afraid of ghosts."
Stressing that Vijayan's fight is against superstition, Vijayan added: "Rama Naidu's efforts are therefore not a local affair. It should attract national attention because he is a fight against frivolous rituals and rampant superstition."
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