The Hans India impact : Collector visits tribals, learns their travails

• Orders provision of basic facilities, sanctions teacher post

Kurnool : District Collector C Sudarsan Reddy on Friday visited Jaanalagudem, the village of Chenchu community, situated on the banks of River Krishna in Kothapalli mandal on the border of Kurnool-Mahbubnagar districts. The collector's visit was in response to the series of news published by The Hans India highlighting the plight of the Chenchu community.

The collector had already instructed the ITDA officials to set up solar street lamps in the small village. However, the village faces severe drinking water shortage though the village is situated on the banks of the river Krishna. The collector who travelled in the forest 60 kms was compelled to switch over to the jeep after travelling in the official car for some kilometers. The collector instructed the officials to repair the drinking borewells in the village and to link them to the solar pumping system to provide potable water to the villagers.

He announced the appointment of a teacher in the village which was closed due to staff shortage. The villagers said that the Forest department has been objecting to lay a pucca road to the village. Even in the case of snake bite, which is common in these areas, they have to traverse at least five kilometers in the hills to reach the primary health centre, the Chenchu tribals said. The Chenchu tribals appealed to the collector to curtail the corrupt practices of ITDA officials at Srisailam and the field staff.

"These people have been lapping up all the funds supposed to spend for our development," they said. The officials of thirteen departments have been into sweet talk now because the district collector was visiting the village, they said.

The district collector, who visited the tribal hamlets of Jaanala, Palemcheruvu, Bairluti, Nagaluti and Erramatam gudems for two days, was visibly disturbed by the plight of the tribal community. The collector instructed the district medical and health officer to immediately shift Boda Simon, a snake bite victim who has been convalescing in the village as there was no medical facility anywhere near.

The officials immediately rushed him to the district hospital. The collector held discussions with the villagers and assured them that the administration would solve their problems.