After 800-day protests, people get Gattuppal mandal finally

Gattuppal (Nalgonda): Deriving inspiration from Telangana movement, villagers of Gattuppal carried out agitation for 800 days and finally achieved the Gattuppal mandal as the people got separate Telangana State.

After the announcement of carving of Gattuppal mandal, village wore festive atmosphere with youth danced, women took out Kollattam and victory rallies amid drum beats.     

Apart from Gattuppal villagers’ celebrations, villages of Gundala mandal also wore festive atmosphere over rejoining the mandal to Yadadri- Bhongir district from neighboring Janagoan district. 

With formation of Gattuppal mandal, the problems of in and around villages of Gattuppal going to be addressed as the villagers are forced to go to 23.8 kms to Chandur to get official permissions,  obtain necessary certificates from various departments, to approach police for any law and order issues.  

Background:
The Telangana government under reorganization of districts and mandals, had decided to create Gattuppal mandal in Nalgonda district on Dassera festival in 2016 and all department offices were also setup. 

But just before the inauguration, giving a shock to the villagers, the government cancelled carving of Gattuppal mandal due to group politics in TRS in Mungodu constituency.

Astonished with government decision, villagers of Gattuppal even did not celebrate Dassera festival and at the same time all the villagers took a pledge to start continuous agitation till the government forms the Gattuppal mandal.

In this connection, they formed Gattuppal Mandal Sadana Samithi and elected Kailasam as convener of the Samithi. Since then, they continued their protests at the centre of village and grabbed the attention of the people of the State with different forms of protests. 

IT Minister KTR also assured them to carve proposed Gattuppal mandal when the villagers submitted a memorandum during the Praja Ashirwadha Sabah held at Chandur last year but in vain.

Carving of Gattuppal also became an important topic in Munugodu constituency during the Assembly election.  TRS lost sitting seat of Munugodu constituency with various reasons including cancellation of Gattuppal madal at the last minute.

After considering people’s demand and KTR’s assurance, CM KCR announced to carve Gattuppal mandal along with assured Mulugu and Narayanpet districts during the recent election campaign.

Gattuppal Sadana Samithi convener Edem Kailasam thanked CM KCR over directing the officials to form Gattuppal mandal within 15 days as per the official procedure.  Also, various sections of people and leaders of parties congratulated the villagers and Kailasam over achieving their demand through 800 days agitation.