Warm Welcome For Lokesh At RDT In Battanapalli

RDT staff and officials greeted the minister, who has been actively supporting the efforts to revive the organisation’s services.

The trust, headquartered in Anantapur, had faced a setback in 2021 when its Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence renewal was withheld by the Centre, resulting in a halt to its foreign funding and disruption of several welfare programmes.

During his ‘Yuvagalam’ padayatra, Lokesh had assured the RDT that he would ensure its uninterrupted services. RDT, he noted, had become an integral part of the people’s lives in the region.

Fulfilling his promise, he pursued the matter with the central government after assuming office. Owing to his initiative, the Centre recently granted it the FCRA clearance, enabling the trust to resume its activities.

On his first visit to RDT as minister, Lokesh was welcomed by programme director Mancho Ferrer, hospital head of department Dr P Lalitha Devi and other staff members. Lokesh first visited the memorial of RDT founder Vincent Ferrer and paid floral tributes.

He later interacted with Mancho Ferrer’s mother Anne Ferrer, sister Yamuna and brother-in-law Sanjeev, and enquired about the organisation’s ongoing initiatives. Ferrer briefed the minister on the medical services being provided at the hospital.

The minister also visited the paediatric ward, where he met children undergoing treatment for Thalassemia. He interacted with their parents, enquired how they came to know about RDT, and sought details from doctors regarding the treatment being provided.

Nara Lokesh later posed for photographs with the hospital staff. Ministers Payyavula Keshav, Anagani Satya Prasad, S Savita, MLAs Palle Sindhura Reddy, MS Raju, Kalava Srinivasulu and Bandaru Sravani, among others, were present.