In process of transforming tribals...contribution of a teacher

 

 

School teacher, sarpanch transform village

A major transformation has taken place in this tiny village, 25 km from here, thanks to the efforts made by a former sarpanch and a government school teacher.

Snake catchers

Pamulametta, which lies in Jegurupadu Panchayat, is home to 70 families of ‘Yanadi’, a nomadic tribe that migrated from Nellore district about 90 years ago. They used to eke out a living by catching snakes and selling the skin in the market. But, after the Wildlife Conservation Act came into force and made sale of snake skin a punishable offence, they started catching venomous snakes from residential areas and releasing them in the wild.

Helping farmers

At present, the Yanadis are assisting farmers and agriculture officials in catching rats and they go wherever their services are required.Seven years ago, the government started a school in the village, but no student was enrolled as teachers refused to report to school due to difficulties in reaching there. Things changed after Chilukuri Srinivasa Rao, who won the best teacher award twice at the State level, opted to work in the Pamulametta school even after getting a posting in his native place.

Along with the then sarpanch, Y. Devadeevena Kumari, he started reforming the children. He engaged a barber and arranged hair-cut for all the 30 children who grew long hair in line with their family tradition. He also arranged clothes, notebooks and bags from donors.The teacher then brought out the latent skills in some children by making them draw pictures on the walls of the school and made this exercise a part of their curriculum.Within two years, there was a great transformation with the school wearing a clean and green look. Wall paintings were utilised to spread the messages of the importance of education, use of dustbin and abstaining from drinking. For their pioneering work Devdeevena Kumari got Nirmal Puraskar and the teacher and the school won laurels from former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

SHG started

With a vast majority of the men shunning liquor, the village is poised to become liquor-free. Not to be left behind, the women started a self-help group recently and also thrift activity. The school won the Best School Award recently in the district and in the days to come, might win another award from the Government of India.

Bigwigs fight in land of Nurseries, Rs.80 lakh offered to Panchyat

Rs.80 lakh jackpot offer for development from candidates for sarpanch post

Auctioning the sarpanch post is a crime, according to State Election Commissioner’s ruling and also as per law. If two parties come to an “understanding” and are ready to spend some huge amount on development of the village, will it attract punishable sections under law?

This actually is happening in this lush, green garden village, which consists more than 3,000 acres of nurseries. As per the enumeration this time, the Kadiyam village sarpanch post is reserved for OC woman. After the poll bugle was blown for Panchayat elections, the heads of the village swung into action and decided to field their kith and kin .

Interestingly, all the three contenders are with good political background. They are former MP Girijala Venkataswami Naidu’s daughter-in-law Ms. Ramakrishna Tulasi, Tadepalligudem MLA Eli Nani’s mother-in-law Ms. V. Leelavathi, who is also mother of V.V. Satyaprasad, TDP Commerce wing State organising secretary, and former Minister Jakkampudi Rammohana Rao’s close associate Torati Satyanarayana’s brother’s wife Ms. Geetha Raghava Lakshmi.

Just before the date of nominations, emissaries from Ms. Leelavathi’s (Eli Nani’s group) sent a word to rival group belonging to Girijala Venkataswami Naidu that they will deposit Rs.40 lakh for the development of the village, if Naidu’s group withdrew from the fray. Otherwise, if Naidu’s group is ready to spend more than Rs.40 lakh, they would withdraw from the election.

The immediate response was interesting. Naidu’s group also conveyed a proposal to their rival group that they were ready to part with Rs.40 lakh and deposit a total of Rs.80 lakh (amount of two groups) in the bank, and whoever gets elected would spend the entire amount on the development of the Panchayat. Both the groups were said to have come to the understanding, but nothing on paper. They were yet to deposit the amount in the bank. “They are waiting for last date of nominations. Before the withdrawal we expect Rs.80 lakh to be deposited in the bank. It is going to help the Panchyat,” said P. Satyanaryana, a nursery owner.