Koruprolu PVTG village needs Naidu's help again
By : Aruna
Update: 2024-09-22 16:58 GMT
Viasakhapatnam: Koruprolu PVTG village is once again making headlines. Elderly residents of this village face difficulties in receiving old-age pensions in August, prompting intervention from Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
The villagers held an agitation demanding road facilities for their villages and nearby villages. Koruprolu is located in Anakapalle district, Rolugunta Mandal, MK Patnam Panchayat suburb. The village is home to 10 families of PVTG tribes, comprising 50 individuals. Additionally, 30 families from Kotulu Palem village belong to ST, and 40 from MK Patnam belong to SC.
Due to lack of road facilities, residents face transportation difficulties, often navigating obstacles. For example, to travel from Koruprolu village to MK Patnam village, a distance of 3 kilometres, residents cross a canal and unpaved terrain.
In August, the Chief Minister's office instructed the Anakapalle collector to conduct an investigation into the issue of the district collector's delay in disbursing old age pensions, as reported in various national newspapers.
According to K Govinda Rao, district honorary president of Adivasi Fifth Schedule Sadhana Committee, and ASR district collector, DRDA, PD. MPDO, MRO, and VRO secretariat staff visited the village and conducted an inquiry.
Villagers highlighted the challenges arising from the lack of a road. Subsequently, on August 3, panchayat raj engineering officials surveyed the area for road construction. During the survey, 50 tribals actively participated in jungle-cutting work and contributed to the effort by clearing the land.
The officials estimated a cost of Rs 1.5 crore for the first phase of road construction, to be funded through the MGNREGA. This information was forwarded by the district collector.
However, on September 21, the panchayat raj (projects) deputy engineer and assistant engineer revisited the village for a new estimate despite the passage of 50 days since the initial assessment. They mentioned that the file had been sent to the collector, but funds had not been allocated for the road.
Notably, no funds have been approved for road construction since 2018 without prior estimates from engineering authorities. Villagers say due to rainy season, they faced confinement and difficulty accessing essential items.
Govinda Rao emphasised the need for the district collector's immediate intervention to allocate funds for roads and provide road facilities to their villages. Gemila Vasu, mandal secretary of PTG Sangam, announced that a 'Doli Yatra' will be organised at the district collector's office on September 30 if the villagers' demands remain unaddressed.
PVTG community leaders including K Subbarao and Korra Anand, participated in the protest programme.
Due to lack of road facilities, residents face transportation difficulties, often navigating obstacles. For example, to travel from Koruprolu village to MK Patnam village, a distance of 3 kilometres, residents cross a canal and unpaved terrain.
In August, the Chief Minister's office instructed the Anakapalle collector to conduct an investigation into the issue of the district collector's delay in disbursing old age pensions, as reported in various national newspapers.
Villagers highlighted the challenges arising from the lack of a road. Subsequently, on August 3, panchayat raj engineering officials surveyed the area for road construction. During the survey, 50 tribals actively participated in jungle-cutting work and contributed to the effort by clearing the land.
The officials estimated a cost of Rs 1.5 crore for the first phase of road construction, to be funded through the MGNREGA. This information was forwarded by the district collector.
However, on September 21, the panchayat raj (projects) deputy engineer and assistant engineer revisited the village for a new estimate despite the passage of 50 days since the initial assessment. They mentioned that the file had been sent to the collector, but funds had not been allocated for the road.
Govinda Rao emphasised the need for the district collector's immediate intervention to allocate funds for roads and provide road facilities to their villages. Gemila Vasu, mandal secretary of PTG Sangam, announced that a 'Doli Yatra' will be organised at the district collector's office on September 30 if the villagers' demands remain unaddressed.
PVTG community leaders including K Subbarao and Korra Anand, participated in the protest programme.