Anagodu keeps corruption out

DAVANAGERE: It all started with a simple power breakdown in Anagodu village, 15 km from Davanagere, nine years ago. As always, the complaint was left unattended for a long time. Angered by this, irate villagers burnt down the local electricity office. This was the turning point for the populace of 4,500 of Anagodu village to check corruption and work towards making it a bribe-free place.The push was given by gram panchayat member Mallikarjunappa.
From then to today, Mallikarjunappa has kept up the momentum. Cases of government officers demanding a bribe to push files or do their duty are instantly reported to the Lokayukta, according to D G Rudresh, Anagodu gram panchayat chief. "It has become possible for us to maintain Anagodu as a corruption-free village in Davanagere district,'' he added. Rudresh has been president for the past 15 months and already, three gram panchayat secretaries have been transferred. "We don't allow corrupt officers to continue in the gram panchayat," he maintained. Women holding some of the top posts in the primary health centre, primary and high schools have also contributed to making Anagodu a model village. "Now, we are setting right the 15-year-old issue of 200 sites distributed illegally by the previous gram panchayat," GP members Kuberappa and Karibasappa said.
As a mark of support to activist Anna Hazare, a team of 100 youth from the village are going to New Delhi to take part in the protest.