Regions: VRO in Rajahmundry Region ( The Godavari Region )

ORISSA-I & II ## RAJAHMUNDRY-III ## GUNTUR-IV ## NELLORE-V ## CUDDAPAH-VI

TAMIL NADU-VII & VIII ## HYDERABAD–IX A ## SURYAPET-IX B ## WARDHA-X

RAJASTAN-XI ## VIZAG-XII

The Godavari-region, covering two districts ( East and West Godavari) is one of the most attractive regions of VRO in Andhra Pradesh State. With a combined population of some 7.5 million people, and an area of 250 x 200 KM, it marks the breakline of the eastern coast from the south to the north: everything, roads, hills, landscape, takes a turn here to the North East.

Once upon a time, it was the Circar-region: a hardwood and palmtree-region sloping down from the 3500ft. high hills to the mighty delta of "wild river". A resting "harbour" for the eastern sea-traders, it was also the homeland of Vedic brahmin scholars, and the capital of ancient indigenous Kingdoms. ( Rajah-mundry = King's residence).

The Socio-Cultural character of the Region:

The reason of the VRO presence in the region is our pre-occupation to reach out to the indigenous tribal population, which has lived for centuries on the forested hillslopes: The Konda-reddys ( hill- Reddys) together with the Koyas and Kondakamaris mainly. the common language is "koya", an unwritten tribal dialect, gradually losing its dominance. Their habitat and traditional lands have been officially protected since British times under a special administrative structure: the "Agency", which covers the entire western part of the REgion from the plains to the Hills. It is a very attractive forest region, with dancing hills, nature the reserves" and throughout the year with "tribal festivals" seasonal and familiar, when they display their original costumes, arts and dances.

The eastern part of the region is totally different: green rice-fields, thousands of coconut-trees, small winding paths and roads, hovels in between new bazar-townships, and here and there the first oil-derricks of the Godavari-basin. Here Scheduled Castes ( dalits, depressed classes) live in hundred of tiny hamlets, owned by large landlord-properties, working on thier fields - Communities and subcastes here are mixed with various minorities. They are the "not-so-poor" in the midst of the "not-so-rich", both bonded by tradition and lack of alternatives to the fertile land.

Environmentally:

The eastern part is a very exposed and disaster-prone area: another reason of our VRO presence in the region. Cyclones are practically annual events, floods for a change, with all its disruption of shelter and roads. The Western part is occasionally affected by river floods, but spared from cyclonic winds.

East Godavari is the timber and fruit-region. West Godavari the Bamboo-region, with its mile-long river-born bamboo platforms floating to the city.

VRO has not much expanded its work in West ( South-Godavari) because of the relative higher rural wealth (lakes, fisheries, industries). There are fewer poor villages in between the sugarcane, maize and rice-fields, fed by a series of Krishna irrigation canals.

The Role-Significance:

These Godavari Districts in the region, is specially determined by the tribal poverty and the coastal island villages, which are always worst affected by the natural calamities.

The Difficulties:

Encountered in this region are a special challenge. There is the tribal language (though we have tribal language study there are the communication in the hill, only our boats can get us there for a while, before the hour long hill climbs begin) and there are the administrative imbalances (Dt.Headquarters at the coastal edge) and the fast increasing environmental pollution in the rivers. Recently the added fastly grounwater-spoiling shrimp-industry has entered the region. Coastal villages, surrender under the onslaught of multinational land-acquisition, leaving them with an uncertain future. In the last two years we had also there 2 enormous gas-blowouts, one of which laster over a month.

But Godavari remains for us very important, because of the special problem of widespread "Child Labour", for whom we have already setup three childlabour "Wonderlands", one of our most appreciated VRO-Innovations.

HISTORICAL REVIEW OF RAJAHMUNDRY REGION

1986

  • In response to Village appeals and in cooperation with the AELC, the Godavari Delta Service Centre was inaugurated in August in an abandoned nurses hostel in Luthern Ladies Hospital Compound.
  • Flood relief survey was done both in East and West Godavari Districts in two teams lead by Mr. Samuel Gopal and Mr. Janarthan Rao.
  • At first we hired a boat for our Mobile Medical Programme along the Godavari River. It was also used for carrying the flood victims and sick people. Village motivation was carried on.

1987

  • In the first phase 8 villages were selected for an integrated rebuilding programme, with the support of CARITAS-INDIA
  • Mr.Koen Cappon a Belgian Architect set up a boat office and started the construction programme in 6 villages.
  • Community child care programme was also started in 5 villages.
  • Mr.Andreas from Sonnenhaus (Germany) started the Homeopathi health programme from the boat.
  • An Ananda Jyothi Brothers' service camp in Gonduru village brought a radical village attitudinal change that led to other villagers joining the movement.

1988

  • We purchased one Larger river boat for material transportation and for the health programme, with the support of Canadian friends.
  • We also started to construct the model learning estates in 5 villages along Godavari river the most attractive in our programme.

1989

  • The first four of 8 villages were inaugurated during the year by the local Government officials.
  • The new learning programme started in 5 villages.
  • The second phase of construction programme began in the Rampachodavaram circle.
  • On an invitation from the District Collector, Mr. Jayaprakash narayan asking us to start the Child Labour Rehabilitation Programme in jaggempeta, we made an intensive village and factory survey.
  • Brothers from Ananda Jyothi Surveyed child labour who are working in tiles factories.
  • Teachers were selected and trained to start the CLRP programme ( under the supervision of Mr. Ramsingh assisted by Mr. Ramana Rao)
  • In December, 1989 the first CLRP started in a rented building with 100 children.

1990

  • We purchased land for our "Dreamland" CLRP and started infrastructural arrangements. The centre was operational in June, 1991.

1991

  • Land was obtained from a Swamy for Dreamland-II and for the CLRP extension programme (phase-II)

1992

  • The Class Rooms and Workshops for Dream land II and for the extension programme were started.
  • Dreamland-I was officially inaugurated by Mr. Julius Dillig and Mrs. Maria Baertl and the programme shifted to our own buildings.

1993

  • CLRP extention programme started functioning at 48 KM for 50 youth ( BPTC).
  • We also entered the Hope Island and made a survey of the 80 families. We also made contact with the Government to provide facilities ( fishing nets and boats ) for fishermen communities. However bureaucratic obstacles and delays prevented further action.
  • Mr.Burkarrt from Germany assisted in the village building programme (Sirivaka).

1994

  • We purchased "Fibre speed boat" for fast communication.
  • Mr Rambaut and Ms. Anne, Belgium worked in Sirivaka Village in construction and educational programme in agency area.
  • Diesel Pump was installed at Gonduru to lift water from Godavarri river for drinking water purpose, the first of many.
  • Mr. Nick and Dr.Susan from Scotland (UK) spent one remarkable year in Jaggampet and prepared their "Village Scienc" book and a book on "Health Education".
  • Mr. Theo and his wife Kathey from Belgium helped in the educational programme in the agency area for a few months.

1995

  • Two solar pumps were erected at the river side Villages for drinking water purpose.
  • The third CLRP unit was started at 9th km, by Dr. Robert Whychera, Austria on an extensive roadside plot.
  • Mr. Peter and Mrs. Griet (Belgium) assisted in the educational programme in agency area.
  • Eye camp was organised in Madipallin around 150 patients attended the camp from 35 villages and cateract operations were done for 30 patients, lenses were distributed by the Lutheran Hospital.

1996

  • Entered in Konaseema area after the heavy cyclone.
  • Surveyed 20 villages and selected 10 potential villages for the building programme, out of them we have started two already after completion of testings.
  • The 13th BPTC programme was started in Madhapuram with the support of the friends from Knokke, Belgium.