Hyderabad Youth Bring Change to Remote Tekulagudem Village

Hyderabad: In a village still struggling with patchy infrastructure and daily hardships, a group of young volunteers from the Hyderabad Youth Assembly (HYA) stepped in with a hands-on development programme that focused on tangible solutions rather than token gestures. The initiative, carried out in Tekulagudem with support from the Bheem Children Happiness Centre (BCHC), brought together eight departments of the youth-led group to address basic needs in areas such as water access, electricity, agriculture, and education.

Tekulagudem, like many remote villages in Telangana, continues to face issues that are often overlooked—no consistent power supply, a lack of clean water sources, poor school facilities, and limited livelihood options for women. HYA’s intervention was focused not only on addressing these gaps but also on involving the local community in the process.

In the absence of electricity, the group installed solar-powered television units in local schools, offering students access to educational content. “It’s not a fix for everything, but it’s a start. The children now have visual learning tools that they didn’t before,” said one of the organisers, Thrilok Sai.

To ease the burden on women who still walk several kilometres daily to fetch water, HYA distributed water wheels—barrel-like rolling containers that can carry large quantities of water with minimal effort. Villagers said it would reduce both physical strain and health risks.

Children were also given sports equipment, a small but important step in supporting physical well-being. “We never had a proper ball or even a skipping rope in school. This will make a big difference,” said a Class 6 student from the local government school.

Farmers in the area, many of whom struggle with unreliable seed quality and low yields, were given high-grade seeds as part of the push towards sustainable agriculture. Awareness sessions were also held for women, focusing on health, self-employment, and building confidence.

Organisers said the programme was guided by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, but their real aim was simple: to ensure basic dignity and access for all. HYA has previously worked on development projects in both urban and rural parts of the state, driven largely by college-going volunteers and young professionals.