The villagers of Varikole in Parkal mandal seem to have internalised the saying United We Stand, Divided We Fall , as they have been witnessing phenomenal transformation in their village since three years.
They have voluntarily banned illicitly distilled (ID) liquor here. “The village was a hub of liquor from where gudumba was supplied to many other villages in Warangal and Karimnagar districts,” explained Chandha Kumara Swamy, a resident of Varikole.
Nearly 70 families thrived on ID liquor, but they were all provided an alternative source of income such as rearing cattle among others. Speaking to The Hindu , Sarpanch Ch. Latha said banning ID liquor was the first step towards making the village progressive. Soon, the villagers came together and formed a village development committee drawing representatives from each caste.
Even since, the village has been witnessing tremendous growth in every aspect, be it the construction of individual sanitary latrines (ISLs), work on Mission Bhagiratha and laying of roads among others. “In three more months, we will reach the target in constructing ISLs and in January, every household will have tap water connection while there will be roads on all sides of the village,” explained the Sarpanch.
Seventy-year-old Pingili Surender Reddy, another villager, said they attribute the progress in the village to Pochampalli Srinivasa Reddy, who promised and brought ₹10 crore-worth development work to the village in the past two years. “We have eight community halls for a population of 5,800, one each for each caste. We have 150 street lights and 14 CCTV cameras covering the whole village,” he explained.
Two years ago, Mr. Srinivasa Reddy was made the in-charge of TRS party campaign during the Parliament by-election. He had visited his native Varikole village and was disappointed over the poor state of affairs. “My village did not witness any development for decades. People were divided on party lines. I told them to be united and support a single party and bargain for development. They believed in me and using my good offices, I could do my bit,” he said.
Ms. Latha said the village would be a model one in three months not just in Telangana but in the whole country.
“We will have air-conditioned waiting room at the bus shelter for pregnant woman soon and a state-of-the-art Gram Panchayat building that is under progress,” she said.
