The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Far from development in YSR's constituency

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Thursday, Jul 01, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Far from development in YSR's constituency

By M. V. Subramanyam

CUDDAPAH, JUNE 30. Development is a word unknown to people of a remote village, Bollagondicheruvu, in Vempalle mandal of the Pulivendula Assembly constituency, represented by the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, situated atop hillocks on the border of Cuddapah-Anantapur districts.

With no approach road, protected drinking water supply, power supply, primary school or medical facilities in the far-flung Bollagondicheruvu village in Giddangivaripalle panchayat, its people eke out a living by raising rainfed crops. They have to trek a mountainous terrain for about 10 km that takes at least four hours to reach the nearest developed habitation. Notwithstanding the publicity blitzkrieg, the people are unaware of sanitation, nutrition etc.

A school exists in the village only in records, but not in reality, and the villagers have never seen a teacher posted to the school supposed to function in a temple, though his salary is paid promptly. While the able-bodied trek the rough terrains to reach the outside world, the aged persons and those falling ill or bitten by venomous creatures, are carried in a blanket tied to a long stick, for treatment to Vempalle or to Thalapula in Anantapur district.

With even routine illnesses leading to loss of lives before they reach the health centre, the village has hardly any survivor beyond the age of 50 years. A 12-year-old girl died of viral fever last month and such deaths occur periodically. Illiteracy is almost 100 per cent and the main avocation of the children of the village is to graze cattle. With life in the forests becoming difficult day by day due to successive droughts, the villagers have decided to move over to the plains, with the hope of getting work.

The State Government has mooted a proposal to shift the village to the plains near Nelavaram thanda (hamlet), as laying roads and creating infrastructure on the hillocks is an arduous task. The Government sanctioned 35 pucca houses and sanctioned 2.50 acres of land each to 27 villagers near Nelavaram. A borewell was sunk but a motor was not fixed and hence neither construction of houses nor cultivation of the lands took off due to water scarcity.

Electrification of the village was proposed and electric poles were transported to the place, but objections raised by forest officials stalled work. The villagers want pucca houses and agricultural lands sanctioned to 18 more families. The Velugu officials of Vempalle have formed two self-help groups in the village to promote thrift, but they could not go ahead like other SHGs.

The Velugu project officials have donned the mantle of motivating the villagers of Bollagondicheruvu to plan their future by gaining awareness, without endlessly awaiting assistance from outside. The Velugu Project Director, B. Vijayendira, the District Project Managers, A. Padmaja, R. Ramadevi, S. Noor Ahmed, Sunil Kumar, office staff, community coordinators and a botanist, Venkata Raju, trekked to the village and interacted with the villagera.

Ms. Vijayendira explained to the villagers that SHGs were not meant for thrift alone, but to enable them to put forth their problems and seek Governmental assistance, besides benefiting from Government schemes. She ensured formation of two committees among the villagers and assured to extend cooperation for their betterment. The villagers vowed to educate their children if a school functioned in their habitation.

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