In 2024, investigations by South First revealed gaps, exposed lapses and demanded accountability from governments. Here is a pick of some of our best investigations.
Published Dec 31, 2024 | 5:00 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 31, 2024 | 5:00 PM
The press is considered the fourth pillar of democracy, holding authorities accountable for their decisions and actions by working for the public.
In 2024, investigations by South First revealed several gaps in the administration by governments across the southern states.
These reports brought to light the truth about the conditions of various government schemes, decisions, and the suffering of people. Here are some of the best investigative reports by South First in 2024.
An independent investigation conducted by South First over a week in the Vijayawada and Machilipatnam Lok Sabha constituencies ahead of the elections in Andhra Pradesh revealed how voter profiling was being conducted in the final electoral list by the then-ruling YSRCP’s workers in nexus with the volunteers across the state.
This nexus aims to assist the party by segregating voters into three groups: YSRCP-inclined, Opposition-inclined, and neutral. This is expected to allow them to tailor their strategies accordingly to woo these different voter segments, as the party sets the target of achieving 60 percent voting for YSRCP in every booth.
A South First investigation revealed Whitefield in Bengaluru is facing a crisis due to the unregulated growth of unauthorised Paying Guest (PG) accommodations, and overcrowding areas like Prashant Layout and Nallurhalli Road. These illegal constructions, built on small plots with minimal space, house hundreds of professionals in cramped, unsafe conditions.
Many PGs bypass fire safety regulations by staying under the 21-meter height limit, creating serious fire hazards. Narrow roads hinder emergency responses. Despite numerous complaints, authorities have been slow to act, and the lack of proper approvals for these PGs has worsened the situation. Activists are urging immediate action to prevent potential disasters.
Dr Mandava Prabhakar Rao, the “Cotton King of India” and former ABVP secretary, purchased electoral bonds worth ₹53.5 crore through his company, Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd (NSL), and its subsidiaries.
Following the purchase of the bonds between October 2022 and July 2023, Rao was appointed to several prominent roles. Rao’s NSL has previously made headlines for legal disputes over seed patents, tax issues, and violations of seed regulations. Additionally, Rao’s close ties with the RSS, and BJP, and his opposition to Monsanto’s dominance in India’s seed market have fueled his prominent role in the agriculture sector.
Ahead of the Karnataka Cabinet meeting on 14 November, South First accessed documents that showed Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh proposing a discussion on two subjects connected to the mining and forest departments.
The government’s plan to lift the night ban on mining activities and remove iron ore from the list of forest products has caused concern among environmentalists and former mining industry professionals.
An investigation by South First revealed that lakhs of children have been deprived of breakfast served in 27,147 schools in Telangana after the Congress-led state government did not renew the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme for the 2024-25 academic year.
Kerala, renowned for recording the lowest school dropout rates in the country, is faced with the allegation of according low priority to its most vulnerable. South First investigation found that tribal students of several schools in the Idukki district have been left to fend for themselves as the government-funded breakfast scheme has been halted for over six months.
South First investigation unearthed widespread dissatisfaction with a menu change in Anganwadis in Karnataka, where pre-mixed meals replaced the traditional fresh dishes. The khichdi, approved by the Defence Food Research Laboratory, is causing complaints of bad smell and digestive issues among children.
Anganwadi workers and parents have raised concerns about the poor quality of the food and the lack of fresh ingredients, leading to calls for a return to the old, more palatable menu.
The Hyderabad Metro Rail Project faced controversy when its operator Larsen & Toubro (L&T) said it considered an exit due to financial difficulties linked to the state government’s Mahalakshmi Scheme, which offers free travel for women, girls, and transgender persons on state-run buses. L&T claimed this scheme is impacting Metro revenues.
Despite this, Telangana’s Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy stated that the company could exit, and the state would take over operations. The Metro has reported losses in recent years, but South First‘s investigation revealed that ridership has generally increased.
The state has provided financial support, and experts argue L&T should continue, citing unfulfilled promises from the previous government.
