Sometimes a rebuff or rejection could bring out the best in people to better themselves and be accepted. On August 15, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had launched ‘Kanti Velugu’ programme at Malkapur in Toopran mandal. In that meeting, only locals were allowed and residents of Konayipally – though a neighbouring village – were not, as they were outsiders.
“That night I could not sleep because I felt humiliated. Why we were not allowed? Don’t they come to our village if we make it another Malkapur,” asked K. Suryamma, a villager.
Many in the village had the same feeling which has resulted in bringing them together to change the fate of the village.
Clean and green
From August 16, they took up cleanliness in the village by sparing two hours — 8 a.m. to 10 a.m —every day and the village turned spick and span with no litter or garbage on the roads, in a matter of just a few weeks. Apart from this, they were also putting rangoli on both sides of the road three days a week – Tuesday, Friday and Saturday – for the past 47 days.
“We wish the nation looked at us for the cleanliness we maintain and that officials and public representatives visit us. We have decided to continue this programme till October 2, 2019. We will also plant as many as one lakh saplings and see that they will grow well. Already 10,000 saplings have been planted. The rest will be completed in the next one year,” said Pandu Kankanala, a youth from the village, who is at the forefront to transform his village.
“We have formed a water committee which would supervise supply of water and arrest the wastage,” said K. Balaraj, another villager.
What’s more, the villagers have also banned liquor.
Motivated from slight
“We have turned the incident of humiliation to our advantage, become united and promised ourselves to keep our village ahead of others in all respects. We have formed seven committees to transform the village,” said B. Rama Goud of the village.
Collector K. Dharma Reddy, who garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the village on Tuesday and addressed a gathering, promised to extend all help to the villagers.
“Here, things are moving with self-motivation of villagers. The only thing we have to do is guide them and extend support,” said Ch. Srinivas Rao, Mandal Parishad Development Officer, Toopran.
