It all started with Narendra Modi initiating ‘Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana’ instructing all the MP’s to adopt villages in their respective constituencies.
Village Adoption Scheme as a model for energizing the rural economy in India and to slow down rural – urban migration which research has shown to be harmful to both; rural and urban people of India and their regions. The scheme strives to build resources for the villages to help sustain themselves with basic needs like water, electricity, schools, enhancing gram panchayat work and infrastructure.
Later on, a private media channel has initiated ‘Greenathon’ to ensure electricity in as many villages possible. Once in year there are many celebrities from Bollywood and Politics come together to adopt villages in providing electricity needs. We see the likes of SRK, Amitabh, Hritik, Abhishek, Kareena Kapoor, Milind Soman, Rahul Bose and the list goes on participating in the event and adopting not one but multiple villages.
This trend in Andhra and Telangana states was first started by Sachin Tendulkar as a part of Prime Minister’s scheme and adopted a village in Nellore district ‘Puttam Raju Kandriga’ and has stood as role model by treating the village as his own child and doing as much as he could. Nirmala Seetharaman, another political dignitary who is currently handling MoS for Ministry of Commerce & Industry has adopted two villages from Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh.
The next to follow the trend and start the trend of celebrities taking part in this program from both the states was none other than our very own Prince Mahesh Babu deciding to adopt his ancestral village ‘Burripalem’ in Andhra. After Telangana Minister KTR appreciating Srimanthudu movie and requesting him to adopt a village in Telangana state too, Mahesh babu happily obliged and has decided to adopt a village in Mahabubnagar district paving way for rest of the celebrities to follow.
The latest to follow the trend is Prakash Raj, recently tweeting that he would be soon adopting a village as a part of his charitable activities under “Prakash Raj Foundation”. This is a welcome trend of celebrities also spending their hard earned money for the development of the back bone of the Country, we might soon see more and more celebrities following this healthy path.
P.S: We already have Telangana Government taking the lead in initiating Gram Jyothi scheme as a logical continuation to Mana Ooru-Mana Pranalika. Some of our ministers have already adopted multiple villages each and the progress is being posted on the government site starting August on various development projects undertaken in adopted villages of the rural districts.
