PVTG community defies govt delay, build 3-Kilometre road Jeenabadu
16 Jan 2025 9:03 PM IST
P.V.T.G. community members construct a three-kilometre road connecting Gummanthi to Dayethi village in Jeenabadu panchayat of Anantagiri mandal in Alluri Sitarama Raju district.
Visakhapatnam: In a display of determination and solidarity, members of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) have by themselves successfully built a three-kilometre gravel road connecting Gummanthi to Dayethi village in Jeenabadu panchayat of Anantagiri mandal in Alluri Sitarama Raju district.
Around 200 community members toiled over five days to complete the crucial road in a challenge to government authorities who have kept delaying the road project.
Dayethi village is atop a hill and home to 109 families of the Kondu tribal community, the population being approximately 450 individuals. The region includes Peddakota and Pinakota villages, encompassing 11 tribal hamlets with a total population of around 2,000.
After many requests and complaints, the Tribal Welfare department had laid a road at a cost of ₹38 lakh during 2018–19 fiscal year. The road got washed away following a severe rainfall. In 2022, Panchayat Raj department approved ₹1.5 crore for a gravel road and provided an additional ₹9 lakh earmarked for laying the road. Heavy rains washed away this road too.
Following continued pursuit of the matter by PVTGs, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan laid the foundation for a new road on December 22 from Gummanthi to Rachakilam, passing through Reddypalem at Ballagaruvu. He inspected the Dayethi road route and assured that Rachakilam road will be constructed from Gummanthi after completion of the Dayethi route.
In follow up of the Deputy CM’s promise, officials visited the area but did not take up the road connecting Gummanthi to Dayethi village. Throwing a challenge to government officials, the PVTG community members took the matters into their own hands and laid the road for three kilometres.
"The entire road length is 12 kilometres from Balagaruvu through Dayethi, Maddarebu, Tunisibu, and other PVTG villages. When we pursued the matter with the panchayat raj department following Pawan Kalyan’s assurance, officials indicated that funding may be granted in a subsequent phase. Given the delay, we are prepared to undertake the construction ourselves," said Sidari Anand, a member of the Jinubadu panchayat ward.
Anand and social activist K. Govinda Rao have asked government officials to follow the example of community members laying part of the road and completing the entire road stretch, highlighting the community's resilience and commitment to improving their living conditions.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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