Former Naxal village in ASR dist builds its own road through Shramadhanam

Visakhapatnam: The tribals of a remote village, once a hub of Naxal activity in present-day Alluri Sitarama Raju district, have taken it upon themselves to build a road to their habitation, which has remained inaccessible for over four decades. After years of failed pleas to local authorities, the villagers paved the road through Shramadhanam (voluntary labour). Nallabelli village of Budaralla Panchayat in Koyyuru mandal was once a Naxal stronghold, with most of its youth serving as militia members. The village gradually emerged from the clutches of the extremists. It was formed about 40 years ago, when the Naxal movement was at its peak in the then Visakhapatnam tribal region. Frustrated by the indifference of district officials despite repeated representations, the villagers united to construct the road themselves. With no motorable access, residents were forced to walk several kilometres to reach the weekly shandy, hospitals and other essential facilities. A makeshift stretcher-like doli remains the only means to transport patients and pregnant women to the nearest primary health centre. The villagers began Shramadhanam on April 7 and completed the road work by April 10.