The 550-odd residents of Puttamraju Kandrika, a sleepy hamlet under the Nernuru panchayat near here, can’t wait for Sunday as they will be spending an unforgettable day of their life with MP and legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
Mr. Tendulkar, who has adopted Puttamraju Kandrika under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, will be visiting the hamlet on Sunday. An array of events have been lined up from 7.30 a.m. till noon on the day for a lively interaction of Mr. Tendulkar with farmers, children, youth, women and elderly persons of Puttamraju Kandriga. The cricket icon has provided Rs. 2.79 crore from his MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds for development of amenities in the hamlet, as a beginning of his future contributions to the village development.
After the news of village adoption hit headlines, the State government has chipped in to allot funds to the tune of Rs. 3 crore as part of its contribution to make it a model village. The sudden showering of welfare programmes has come as a blessing for the 110 below poverty line (BPL) families, who at present have to go to Gudur, 18 km away from their hamlet, to buy essential commodities such as vegetables, groceries and medicines.
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“With the available funds, advanced infrastructure would be created in the hamlet, including solar lighting system, community centre and a few shopping areas,” said District Collector N. Srikanth. The works would be completed in the next three months and special steps would be initiated for proper maintenance of these facilities.
Eighty per cent of the residents of the hamlets belong to the BC and the rest are from SC and ST communities. Only 30 residents are farmers, who have very small land holdings in which they toil hard to earn their livelihood. Majority of the population are either agricultural labourers, cattle-rearers or daily.
Joint Collector G. Rekha Rani said that Mr. Tendulkar would lay foundation stone for the works being carried out with his MPLADS funds. These works included upgrade of a school with well furnished canteen, a creche, playground, solar lighting, community centre and an atrium for training classes.
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With the funds provided by the government, facilities for 24-hour drinking water supply and electricity, a dumping yard, compost pit and underground drainage system would be developed.
“After Puttamraju Kandriga, many more deprived villages are being adopted. There are reports that 24 villages would see a new transformation because of this effort,” said Ms. Rekha Rani.
As per the schedule, Mr. Tendulkar would arrive at Krishnapatnam port on Saturday evening and make a night halt there. The next day morning, he would visit the hamlet and interact with the residents and take part in official programmes including dedication of MPLADS funds to the panchayat. He would leave the village around 1 p.m.