RAJAHMUNDRY: It was an institution that Kandukuri Veeresalingam started as a launch pad for his social reform movement. Hithakarini Samajam, so christened by Veeresalingam, was not only part of history but an organisation which created history.
This was a home for young widows. This was the place where widow remarriages took place, women were given education and helped to stand on their own feet.
When all other instutions created by Veeresalingam Pantulu like the Veeresalaingam Home were handed over to the government, successive governments turned them into institutions to rehabiliate politically unemployed leaders, irrespective of the party in power.
Now the state government is delaying to constitute new trust board to Hitakarini Samajam, though the term of the present board expired six months ago. The trust has assets to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore in the city.
Though several political leaders headed the organisation to what extent they developed the institution is still a mystery. The past managements didn't even bothered to memorise Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu by observing occasions like his birth and death anniversaries. They could not even attend to the house of kandukuri Rajyalakshmi, wife of Veeresalingam, which is in a dilapidated condition.
Despite all this, many leaders of ruling party are eagerly waiting to be nominated to the trust board chairman and member posts. Endowments department took over the institution in 1994 and appointed donors as trustees.
Noted contractor Cherukuri Virraju was the first chairman of the Samajam in 1994 and continued for two terms.
Later Telugu Desam Party leader Adireddy Appa Rao, Congress leaders Chall Shankar Rao and Dasi Venkata Rao worked as its chairmen.
Hithakarini Samajam come under the category of '6-B' as per Endowments Act. As per the act, the institutions and temples above Rs 25 lakh of income will come under '6-A' category and income between Rs 2 lakh to Rs 25 lakh comes under '6-B'category.
The Samajam is running an English medium high school, a junior college, one women's college with PG courses and a degree college with PG courses. The total strength of the students of all the educational institutions is about 10,000.
Many elite of the city are demanding that the government should appoint service-oriented persons to the trust board, to fulfill the ideals cherished by the great social reformer Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu.
schary@expressbuzz.com