Here’s a discovery of a great leader, Talari Lakshmi, who came to light in a social worker’s interaction with the residents. At the same time, he went around several villages as part of selfless social service.

Thurkapally Mandal is the most under-developed place in Yadadri District. Surrounded by hillocks without any water source for drinking or cultivation, this Mandal is socially and economically backward. They created history by holding elections under the Scheduled Caste reservation system for the first time in 2001.

Talari Ramulu, a landless laborer who earned his living by shoeing cattle, competed with 14 candidates and got elected because of his nature and personality that compels him to reach out to the people in need. Being the first representative from his caste, he took it upon himself to develop the village for the first time in 50 years. He didn’t mind spending his own money for this purpose. While his tireless efforts were coming to fruition, and the people were planning to celebrate the success of Srirama Navami, Talari Ramulu died in an accident. At the same time, the roads were being lit up with electricity. 

Talari Lakshmi

An uneducated Talari Ramulu couldn’t submit bills for the work he undertook with his funds. After his demise, his wife Talari Lakshmi got elected in the by-elections with a considerable margin and continued the excellent work of her late husband ardently. Such devotion to service under challenging circumstances gained the praise of the entire populace. The village had been dealing with a drinking water shortage for decades, requiring people to walk long distances to get water. Talari Lakshmi took technical help in finding water sources in digging bore wells, and it proved to be a success. With that, she solved the drinking water problem forever.

Another major problem was the weekly bazaar held every Friday, catering to the people of 20 surrounding villages. This bazaar was being held on the busy Yadadri-Thurkapally main road. Narrow roads, heavy traffic, and the congestion due to the bazaar caused many accidents. Talari Lakshmi took the initiative and allotted land for this bazaar, which also put an end to this problem. Talari Lakshmi didn’t stop at that. Even while facing political and social opposition, she protected Government lands from being occupied by the land grabbers.

Along with the Government officials and other elected representatives, she worked hard in acquiring a building for the Mandal Prajaparishad (MPDO) and Mandal Revenue offices (MRO). Her achievements continued in getting concrete roads in the entire village, supplying drinking water to all, allotment of plots to homeless people, Class Rooms in Government School, a comfortable new bus-stand, and planting trees.

Talari Lakshmi also got two Anganvadi centers erected, Community Halls for different Castes, while organizing seminars on awakening the spirit of self-development with the help of NGOs. An uneducated woman who selflessly served and catered to long-standing problems and needs with great panache and dignity while being poor herself. During her term as an elected representative of the people, she couldn’t contest more in elections and is now living as an agricultural laborer to make ends meet. 

Talari Lakshmi’s life gives out a humanitarian message to all of us. She is an inspiration to all those who look forward to doing remarkable social service.

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