BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) praised Duggidevara Sri Raghunandan, a youngster from Khammam district, for turning a government primary school into a plastic-free campus.
Raghunandan, a native of Mallaram village in Tallada mandal, has worked to improve the school since 2016. Inspired by actor Mahesh Babu’s film Srimanthudu, he began the effort with support from his parents, Ajay Kumar and Vijayalakshmi.
His work focuses on cleanliness, greenery, water conservation and reducing plastic use. He provided steel bottles and plates for all 51 students. He also supplied bins to separate wet and dry waste, along with other reusable items.
Raghunandan said he wants children to understand the harm caused by plastic and develop eco-friendly habits from a young age.
The school has received several awards for its cleanliness efforts. These include the national-level Swachh Vidyalaya Award in 2016-17 and state and district-level honours in later years. It also won a district-level award in 2025-26.
KTR met Raghunandan at Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad on Friday. He praised the youngster’s social commitment and assured him of continued support.
