77-yr-old man works for rural development

77-yr-old man works for rural development

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/77-yr-old-man-works-...

Times of India

Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's thoughts after reading his autobiography - The Story of My Experiments With Truth - this septuagenarian has pledged to work for the welfare of rural people.

P S Chandranna received the book during his post-retirement days which gave a new dimension to his life. He said his second daughter, Vandana, a software engineer presented him with Gandhi's autobiography few days after his retirement. It was only after reading it, he was greatly influenced by Gandhi's thoughts. Later, Chandranna started working for the development of rural people. "I was very thrilled after reading the book which made me help farmers in one or the other way," he said.

The 77-year-old retired executive engineer is now attached to the public works department and spends time for welfare of rural masses.

Chandranna established Nyrmalya and Vrukshabhivruddhi Trust in 1995 to carry out his social work. In late '90s, he started promoting scientific disposal of solid waste management. He visited around 150 houses near his residence in T K layout and created awareness . "When I had been to New York with my son in late '90s, I liked their concept of solid waste management which I wanted to introduce in my city," he explained.

In 2000, Chandranna adopted Devagalli village where population of Harijanas is more, and started making the place economically stable. He also set up farm ponds (Krishi Honda) to recharge the ground water table. Chandranna also gave interest-free loan to five people to buy a cow for each one of them. However, the attempt remained futile as it was unsuccessful. "The farmers were not faithful andso I had to drop my idea there," Chandranna recalled.

While in 2006, the trust started dairy development to improve living conditions of farmers in Varakodu village with the help of Varadaraja swamy Kannada Geleyara Balaga, a local youth organization in the village. Chandranna lent Rs 10,000 as interest free loan to two beneficiaries to buy cow and Rs 1500 was subsidy for them. The remaining amount has to be returned in ten months with a monthly installment of Rs 850. The retierd engineer later increased principal amount to Rs 15,000.

So far, Chandranna has helped people to get cows. "All the beneficiaries are earning Rs 3,000 per month and dairy is the only way to improve the conditions of rural folk," he added.

Chandranna, a native of Davanagere, has been residing in Mysore since 1994. His wife Parvathamma is the backbone behind his works. He has three children- Vachana, Vandana and Vishwananda.