VIJAYAWADA: K Venkateswara Rao, the warden of Mother Teresa Home for Orphans, is well-known in Kambhampadu thanks to his daredevil stunts at schools and colleges located near A Konduru Mandal in Krishna District. Rao has a wife and a son who work in Vijayawada.
Speaking to Express, Rao said the Home was founded in 2010 at the village with 18 children, including nine girls belonging to families of daily wagers in nearby villages. “It costs around Rs 16,000 to Rs 20,000 per month to feed the children. I earn the income through performing some daredevil stunts in nearby schools and colleges. Some of them offer money and others pay in kind — rice and commodities — after seeing my stunts. Occasionally, some people from nearby villages also offer excess food from functions,” he said.
When asked about the incident, he said Praveen had taken the extreme step over a petty issue.
“I didn’t even scold him harshly that day, despite him being caught roaming with his friends on the main road. The boy had attempted suicide as he was depressed. At that time, I was playing with the remaining children in the backyard of the home. Suddenly, on hearing Praveen’s screams, I rushed to the verandah. Immediately, the boy was rushed to a nearby hospital in A Konduru for treatment. The doctors there examined him and asked for him to be shifted to Vijayawada. If I committed any mistake, I will abscond from the place soon after the incident, but I didn’t do so,” Venkateswara Rao said.