MP Sachin scores big with Andhra ‘village’

PR Kandriga is well on its way to being one.

Wide concrete roads with tiled pavements lead to the village, where electric poles line the streets. Unlike neighbouring villages, drains don’t overflow -- the drainage system is underground. Water is safe for drinking and taps don’t run dry here, a common problem in the area.

Tendulkar has given a grant of around ` 4 crore and Nellore administration matched his first contribution with `2.90 crore aid.

Though there is no separate budgetary allocation under Sagy but members of Parliament can channelise money through around 21 ongoing development schemes.

The money seems to have been put to good use. A spacious community hall that can accommodate at least 1,000 people has come up close to the village entrance.

Behind the hall is a big playground built next to a modern kitchen and dining hall for the primary school. The school has an e-toilet -- a self-cleaning facility – and a separate restroom for girls.

But, like Tendulkar’s legendary hunger for runs, villagers want more.

“We continue to work as agriculture labourers despite having all modern amenities,” said Arunamma, who is looking for better employment.

The village school has 32 students and they have their mid-day meal on the premises. The modern kitchen and dining hall were of little use to them, N Masthanaiah, a teacher, said.

Sarpanch Rao wants a high school so that the children don’t leave the village to join higher classes. “The community hall can be used as the school building. We don’t want our children to become labourers like us,” he said.

For PR Kandriga to develop, villagers should have better means to earn a living. “We are asking for a tailoring centre and a pickle-making unit for providing employment to women,” Rao said.

The district administration agrees. They would now focus on improving the social indicators by providing health, education and employment facilities, Nellore joint collector A Md Imtiaz said.

Tendulkar and PR Kandriga look set for a long fruitful innings.