Palle Pragathi: Kamareddy Model an inspiration to entire Telangana state

KAMAREDDY: Kamareddy, a newly formed district in erstwhile Nizamabad, is showing the way to the Telangana state on many fronts. The district administration had prepared 10 commandments for successful implementation of the Palle Pragathi programme. Later, this became a policy decision of the state government.

Focus on sanitation, greenery and provision of toilet for each household, segregation of wet and dry garbage, and fogging machines to check mosquito menace are prominent among the 10 commandments.

Moving ahead, the district also procured Vaikunta Rathams (chariots for last rites) and body freezers in interior and remote villages across the district. The state government later proposed Vaikuntadhamam (crematorium) in each village and wards.

It was noted that, compared to urban sprawls, there was no Vaikunta Ratham or body freezer for the safe and proper disposal of bodies in villages. People used tractors or stretchers to carry bodies to the crematorium. That scenario has changed for the better now.

Funerals were an expensive engagement in villages. Mindful of this, the Kamareddy district collector Sharath came up with some novel ideas. As a follow up, the administration arranged donors to procure Vaikunta Rathams and body freezers in various villages.

In a few villages, two or three donors came forward to share the expenses for procuring the facilities. In some cases, a single donor bore the expense to arrange the Vaikunta Ratham and body freezers.

During the 3rd and 4th round of Palle Pragathi programme, around 140 body freezers and 42 Vaikunta Rathams were procured thus.

Vaikunta Rathams are designed as per technical guidance from the transport department. Each Ratham costs around Rs2.50 lakh, which is attached to a tractor as trolley to avoid the burden of arranging a driver or fuel on the gram panchayats. Rural development, panchayat and transport departments joined hands to provide the facility in villages.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, collector Sharath said donors provided these in memory of their deceased family members. “It is very difficult for poor people to dispose of the bodies in a dignified manner. They lack financial and infrastructural support,” he explained, adding even the financially well-off people are facing difficulty while conducting the last rites in remote and interior areas.

Sadashivanagar sarpanch Baddam Srinivas Reddy said his family donated a Vaikunta Ratham in memory of their father Baddam Pedda Ashi Reddy. The district administration took a good initiative, which proved to be very useful for people and the gram panchayats, he said.

Rural development department assistant project director Sayanna, member of a committee that finalised the Vaikunta Rathams, said the idea that came from the district collector was put in practice with help from the donors. “It is simply a community coordination and this will help root out many problems at village level, he opined.

“We will extend the initiative to all the villages in Kamareddy district soon,” he said, adding, “We are proud to be an inspiration for other districts in the Palle Pragathi implementation.”