Balavikas Water Plants Are Like ‘Sanjeevani’ for the Poor: Harish Rao

Former Minister Thanneeru Harish Rao attended the annual conference of Balavikas Water Plants held in Kazipet as the chief guest. Village-level representatives and over 3,000 leaders from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra participated in the event. Extending a warm welcome to the attendees, he said that this year’s theme, “Efficient Leadership – Holistic Development,” was highly relevant to the present circumstances.

Addressing the gathering, Harish Rao stated that four decades ago, the organisation was founded in Warangal by Bala Theresa and Andre. He noted that beyond providing free assistance to rural communities, the organisation’s primary objective has been to create awareness and empower villagers to develop their own communities. He highlighted that the water plant initiative undertaken by Balavikas has achieved significant results in addressing fluoride contamination and water-borne diseases in villages. By supplying clean drinking water , the initiative not only safeguards public health but also reduces the heavy hospital expenses borne by poor families. He described the water plants as being like “Sanjeevani” for villages.

Harish Rao said that expanding the initiative to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha, with a total of 1,600 water plants established, was a remarkable achievement. He added that providing clean drinking water to approximately 3 million people daily was a matter of pride. Entrusting the maintenance of the plants to local communities has strengthened community ownership and ensured the project’s success, he noted.

Expressing concern that the sense of unity and mutual cooperation seen in villages is diminishing in urban areas, he urged people to serve the land of their birth. Emphasising the need for comprehensive leadership, he said that electing the right leadership would steer society towards long-term development. He also assured that he would raise the issue in the Legislative Assembly to secure free electricity for the Balavikas centre and extend his support. He expressed hope that the programme would further inspire efforts towards rural development.