VIJAYAWADA: Turning a new leaf in its journey of service in rural development, the Swarna Bharat Trust started its Vijayawada chapter at Atkur village near Vijayawada Airport on Sunday.
Amid much fanfare, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the chapter by lighting a lamp in the presence of the who’s who of different sectors in the region.
Swarna Bharat Trust, founded 15 years ago by Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu in Venkatachalam near Nellore, has grown to be a well-respected organisation striving for comprehensive development of villages.
Vijayawada Chapter is the first branch of the Trust and took shape within 10 months of the decision to expand the Trust’s activities across the twin Telugu-speaking states. Already, foundation stone for another branch in Hyderabad was laid some time ago.
Spread across eight acres of land, the Trust has several buildings, including an AC auditorium of 1,200 seating capacity, apart from buildings to house various institutions of the trust, hostels, guest house and a 12-bed hospital on its premises along with agriculture fields to train farmers in the modern methods of agriculture and related aspects.
Addressing the gathering, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was all praise for the activities of Swarna Bharat Trust under the stewardship of Deepa Venkat, daughter of M Venkaiah Naidu, who had been the force behind the trust and its activities.
He took the occasion to eulogise the contribution of AB Vajpayee’s government to the growth of the country, particularly development and interconnectivity of rural areas.
On the occasion, Venkaiah Naidu explained the genesis of the Trust and said his role is only that of an inspiration and the entire work is being carried out by his daughter Deepa Venkat and several of his well-wishers.
Naidu explained the objective of the trust and its Vijayawada branch which is to empower women, farmers and village youth.