Gowthami Jeeva Karunya Buildings in Dilapidated Condition
As a result, inhabitants living in the dilapidated buildings are facing hardships. Citizens are demanding that at least by the coming Godavari Pushkaralu, the government should release funds for reconstruction of the buildings.
Kakinada: The two buildings of Gowthami Jeeva Karunya Sangham, established by Karunyananda Swami in 1940 to serve those afflicted by leprosy, the aged and orphans, are in a dilapidated condition.
One of these buildings is in the vicinity of River Godavari in Rajamahendravaram and the other is near the Government Hospital. Karunyananda Swami established the sangham in 1940 with the slogan “Manava Sevaye Madhava Seva (Service to humans is service to God).
The organisation provides shelter to leprosy, old age, orphans and deserted people. At present, the sangham is supporting 17 orphan students in the age group of 5–15 years, four leprosy patients, and 67 old-age people, of whom 19 are bedridden. The centre provides free accommodation, food and medical facilities. It performs the last rituals of unclaimed bodies amid chanting of Hare Rama, Hare Krishna Sankeerthanas.
Sources disclosed that during the last pushkarams, the state government released more than Rs 3 crore for reconstruction of the two Gowthami Jeeva Karunya Sangham buildings. The charge is that the Endowments department diverted the amount to build the Regional Joint Commissioner’s office in the city.
As a result, inhabitants living in the dilapidated buildings are facing hardships. Citizens are demanding that at least by the coming Godavari Pushkaralu, the government should release funds for reconstruction of the buildings.
Previously, eminent people like former minister and freedom fighter A.B. Nageswara Rao used to work for the sangham. Thereafter, the Endowments department has been running the organisation since 1972. It has nearly 80 acres of land which fetch ₹80 lakh revenue. But it is said the amount is only sufficient for maintenance of the organisation.
District Congress Committee president T.K. Visweswara Reddy demanded that
government develop the vast assets of the sangham, so that more needy people could be served. He also demanded that the government release funds for construction of new buildings on the sangham’s premises.
Gowthami Jeeva Karunya Sangham executive officer Mangalampalli Sangameswara Sarma told Deccan Chronicle that at present, they are providing all facilities to the inhabitants of the organisation. Proposals have been sent to the Endowments department for construction of the new buildings. Estimates in this regard will be prepared by higher authorities. He underlined that the organisation needs a 50-bed accommodation.
Sangameswara Sarma said plans are afoot to increase the educational standards of the students from next academic year. Already, some teachers have come forward to teach the students in areas of their expertise, he added.
