Yanamalakuduru a role model village

Vijayawada: Swachh Bharat and Swachh Andhra Pradesh campaign evoked good response from the villagers of Yanamalakuduru which is located on the outskirts of Vijayawada. The village with a population of over 34,000 has set an example to other villages as the 95 per cent of families constructed toilets at their homes.

Highlights:

• More than 95 per cent villagers have toilets at their homes
• Bags first place in Krishna district in open defecation free (ODF) village category

The village stood first in Krishna district in open defecation. A survey conducted by NSS volunteers of Siddhartha Mahila Kalasala, Vijayawada, has revealed that more than 95 per cent tax paying families have built toilets to keep the village clean. The NSS volunteers covered 8,316 houses in the village. Of the total, nearly 8,000 houses have toilets and the remaining families are planning to construct. But, not grounded due to lack of space in their homes.

Yanamalakuduru, which is famous for Siva temple, attracts a large number of pilgrims every year particularly during Maha Sivaratri. The villagers are attracted by slogan Swachh Bharat and Swach Andhra Pradesh and giving utmost importance for free from open defecation.

The village panchayat has built vast network and supplying adequate water to the residents. Yanamalakuduru Village sarpanch M Subhadra told The Hans India that the village panchayat has six water tanks which supply water three hours a day. Moreover, borewells supply water 24x7, she added.

The village panchayat with 20 wards is supplying water to more than 90 per cent families, she said. She further stated that Yanamalakuduru village of Penamaluru mandal stands first in open defecation free (ODF) in Krishna district.
Krupa Kumar, panchayat secretary of Yanamalakuduru village said that there are about 10,000 houses in the village and assessment has been done for 8,316 houses.

He said that there are 268 public taps, 2,826 private taps, as per 2011 census, the total population is 34,177. Tata Company carried out a survey on ODF and ranked the village first in Krishna district in open defecation, he added. The villagers are happy with the supply of water and sanitation.

However, some villagers living on the Bandar Canal Bund in Yamalakudur village do not have toilets facility. The district administration is not able to render assistance to nearly 300 families because they built houses in the encroached canal bund along the canal.

K Durga, a resident of bund area, said though the residents made many representations there was no response from the village panchayat. She said that there is no water facility and no power for nearly 300 families.

Another resident K Anitha said the residents of the outskirts have been facing shortage of drinking water. She said they had been going in open area to attend nature’s call. The residents on the outskirts of the village have been waiting for the allocation of pucca houses or house pattas in other areas in the village or nearby villages.