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A Case Study of THE ANDHRA PRADESH RURAL LIVELIHOODS PROJECT
Nagireddy’s son Gangati Laxma Reddy tells us how from being unemployed he got himself a job and now successfully looks after his wife and children.
40-year-old Gangati Laxma Reddy has a piece of land in Amudalakunta. He lives with his 35-year-old wife Laxmi Narasamma, and young daughters Nikhita and Samata in an old house. Laxma Reddy studied up to intermediate level and was considered fairly well educated in those days. But he discontinued his studies and therefore could not find a good job because he was not qualified enough and he could not do a labourer’s job because he was too well qualified to do that kind of work. As a result he was sort of limping along.
Then the APRLP watershed development programme started. Self-help groups and a village organisation were formed, providing easy access to loans for livelihood activities. In 2003 the project was on the look-out for a person to be the Village Book-Keeper to maintain the group’s accounts. An unemployed person such as Gangati Laxma Reddy would be ideal, so the Watershed Development Team Social Mobiliser asked him if he would take on the assignment on a part time basis. Without a second thought Laxma Reddy agreed to work as Village Book-Keeper/Animator for which he was offered Rs.500 per month. It was like an oasis in a vast desert - this money seemed like Rs.5, 000 to him! He was also hopeful of a
raise and of a better life. He did better his life to some extent, but hospital expenses for his small children and his mother kept him in debt. Spending whole days at work became difficult for him as his children used to contract seasonal ailments. But he did not lose heart. He kept his focus on his work and continued
working thus for two years.
At this time the village did not have any access to veterinary services. The people had to travel to another village, even if the livestock needed treatment for minor ailments, or for artificial insemination. The DRDA set up a sub-veterinary centre for cattle in the village. Laxma Reddy was trained to deal with
minor ailments and artificial insemination of cattle at a 45-day programme in Anantapur and a six-month animator training programme in Chittoor. He was appointed animator for the centre, with a remuneration sponsored by the JK Trust. During the training period he was paid a stipend and TA/DA. He took full advantage of this opportunity to improve his lot.
As animator Laxma Reddy earned Rs.1, 500 per month and also Rs.20-50 daily for providing first aid or artificial insemination to the cattle in the village. The JK Trust has looked after his remuneration since 2006. He earns Rs.3, 000 which is a good income in a village where firewood is available free of cost. In October 2006 the J K Trust ensured that a motor cycle was given to him from the DWMA.
Today Laxma Reddy lives happily. His family wears good clothes and he sends his children to a private school. One cannot succeed by sitting around and moaning about being unemployed. One has to involve oneself actively to succeed. Laxma Reddy has proved this. He says he will do his part to develop the women’s groups as well. If the women’s groups are developed, more people will buy cattle and he will get more business and therefore more income. He credits APRLP for his development and says that women’s groups though APRLP DWMA has given opportunities for employment to the unemployed.
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