VRO in Guntur Region

GUNTUR

NELLORE
 
CUDDAPAH

TAMIL NADU

The Guntur Region is composed of the districts of Guntur, Krishna and a part of Prakasham districts. They form the "home land" of VRO, where everything began in 1969 as "a daring dream", with a combined population of nearly 8.4 million inhabitants, and a conurbation of three major cities ( Vijayawada, Guntur and Tenali - 35 km diameter), the region is marked by the Krishna river-delta and its radiating irrigation canals.

The Socio-cultural configuration: The region from the VRO - view point and priority of service, is mainly copying with the "dalit" - situation in this rapidly expanding agro-industrial area. Because tobaco, cotton, chilli, and other intensive commercial crops are easily cultivated in this black cotton soil, large number of out-caste people were formerly called to settle near the land-owner's residence, where they did double the service. Land was not given to them, and ofr residence, only temporary huts were allowed. They grew in large number, but their living conditions remained poor, while Guntur became an intensive-banking region, handling and attracting large capital.

This socia-cultural imbalance was high lighted by the historical cyclone of 1969 (May) which provided the opportune entry piont for the VRO-presence, and assistance. It remains the most intensively studied region, and the most demonstrative area for those keen to understand the VRO-movement.

The environmental condition of this region shows further kinds of imbalance. The district has lost practically all its forests to industry or city-extension. The ancient kondaveedu range, home for centuries to kings, running through the District, has become mainly a mining area. The villages along the sea coast and river-Krishna, remained deprived of most amenities, while the mushrooming bazar-cities knew rapid expansion and modernisation. In the western part of the District which is covered mostly with limestone outcrops and sandstone or slate-layers, poverty increases. The construction of the new (and the world's third largest) Nagarjuna Sagar dam brought a sea change to the region, along the eastern downward fields.

The impact of VRO in this region was unique. Not only because of its radical, innovative village-perspective, but because of the Government interest and initial support to this programme. Our 25 year presence in this region has also been the proto-type model for other numerous service societies. Internationally VRO-Guntur became a focus of interest for those concerned with rapid rural development: from the World Bank to the various voluntary organisatons from overseas. The biennial International meetings where our Founder Prof. M.A. Windey, s.j. spoke, were invariably starting points of joint action with other villages.

There is no such success possible without its problems: Though there were many religiously motivated groups in this region, and volunteers were readily forthcoming, we had to count with misunderstanding regarding our "secular" character, our "non-professional" volunteers approach, our village community-condition of initiative and assistance, our "crisis" base for radical change ( not relief), our "durable" sustainable shelter-approach, our non-individual, non-institutional, non-charity policy ( refusing eg. imported US food, etc). There was also the gradual danger of being "appropriated" by local interests ( like Jesus by the Nazarenes!). All this helped to confirm us in our vision however.

Historical perspective of Guntur Region:

1969-71: The starting and testing years, when the structure and the base was set up, the "saptasheela" formulated, the core-group trained and the first 10 villages done.

1971-75: After the official registration (Oct 6th) the work expanded to the interior and to the coast, and the first environmental and educational programmes were started.
In two other States, the work began ( Orissa, Tamilnadu) in 1971-72, and in new districts (Krishna, Khammam) with the help of this region.

1975-80: After inaugurating the Nellore region in 1976, and the second major flood gulf in 1977, new sectors of programmes were taken up: Technology, Forestry, Registration. This period saw the birth of a massive adult education and the expansion of our BPTCS, and the first CCCC's together with the tripling of our village-building program. In 1979 our new office in Pedakakani was inaugurated by Mother Teresa.

1981-86: Was a period of consolidation, and Intensive training both for villagers and volunteers, Eastward the Lambadi contacts intensified, and South ward, the Vinukonda area. From Guntur the first North India contacts ( Delhi/UP ) began, and in 1983 Pondicherry-villages were taken up, while inside the region itself the Central services were organised. In 1982 the training centre for Balasavikas was started.

1986-91: Guntur again supplied the early volunteers for Rajasthan, the Hyderabad Region, and the major central study centres. The Rajahmundry region was launched from here. In 1991 the teachers training was started in Rajupalem.

1991-96: Were the years of crisis and renewal. The decentralisation of the Organisation, the regional responsibility, the increasing scarcity of good volunteers, the administrative over burdens, all these worked together to renewal resulting in the shifting of the H O to Hyderabad, (1995) and the arrival of Fr. Bosco as Voluntary Acting Director.