Hyderabad: Corruption in the public domain, particularly political corruption, is the root of poverty and backwardness, Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan said on Republic Day.

Stating that nine out of 10 Telangana districts are backward, and need special attention, he said there is a need to revive public health systems to ensure affordable medicare to the common man, an obvious reference to swine flu which has claimed about 25 lives so far.

The Governor said all district headquarters hospitals would be upgraded into super-speciality hospitals and a health university would be established in Warangal.

“My government has rolled out a transparent strategy to augment welfare for the poor,” he said. The comment on corruption assumes significance in the wake of the sacking of Dr T. Rajaiah as health minister.

Making special mention of Hyderabad, the Governor said that the city would be transformed into a safe global city with top priority given to law and order.

In his 25-minute address, the Governor, who began in Telugu with a couplet “Na Telangana, talli kanjuta valli...Na Telangana, koti ratnala veena, (My Telangana is great, my motherland is akin to a musical instrument embellished with precious stones)” shifted to English and ended in Telugu again.

“Nearly 80 per cent of the state population comprises weaker sections, casting a heavy responsibility on the seven-month-old state government to bring them on par with the developed segments,” he said.

“Notwithstanding the initial impediments, my government has unveiled an ambitious development and welfare agenda and the state shall work relentlessly for realisation of these goals,” he added.