Vijayawada: Demonstratingthe true spirit of social responsibility and community service, the alumni of Koneru Basavaiah Chowdary (KBC) Zilla Parishad High School at Patamata have been providing much-needed relief to the public during the scorching summer months for the past three years.
The initiative, launched in 2023, was conceived by a dedicated group of former students led by the late Polavarapu Bose Babu and is currently spearheaded by Dr Valluru Sivaprasad and Veeranki Mohan Rao. Every year, from March to June, the alumni set up a public service kiosk at Patamata to distribute chilled drinking water and refreshing buttermilk free of cost to commuters, daily wage workers, motorists, and residents affected by the intense summer heat.
The humanitarian effort has received enthusiastic support from several alumni members, including Koneru Vijaya Kumari, Koneru Annapurna, Jhansi Rani, Tatineni Lakshmirajyam, Valluru Tulasi, Koneru Siva Rao of Bengaluru, Sitaramaiah and others. They contribute both financially and through voluntary service to ensure the smooth functioning of the programme. Continuing the tradition this year, the alumni once again established the kiosk and have already achieved remarkable outreach. So far, they have distributed nearly 6,500 litres of buttermilk and 22,500 litres of cool drinking water, benefiting thousands of people during the peak summer season.
As temperatures continue to soar across the region, the KBC ZP High School alumni’s selfless service stands as a beacon of compassion, bringing comfort and relief to countless people in need.
Likewise, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi, Poranki, has been conducting a buttermilk distribution service (Majjiga Seva) at Tadigadapa for the past 38 days, providing much-needed relief to pedestrians and the general public during the intense summer heat.
The service has so far benefited nearly 38,000 people by helping quench their thirst. In an environmentally conscious initiative, the Samithi is using reusable steel glasses instead of disposable cups, promoting sustainable practices.
Every day, around four women volunteers and seven to eight male Sevadal members actively participate in the service. The programme is being coordinated by Rama Devi, Rama Satyanarayana and Tirumala Rao, with dedicated support from volunteers including Bujjamma, Padmavathi and Avinash. The daily expenditure for the service ranges from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,500 and is fully supported through contributions from devotees.
