Watch: Woman politician treks through hills, forests to supply food to tribal families in time of COVID-19

Hyderabad: At a time when being an elected representative for many translates into leading a privileged life and indulging in self-aggrandisement, a woman member of the legislative assembly (MLA) in Telangana has won the hearts of the people by personally delivering essential commodities to the doorsteps of poor, tribal families in inaccessible areas of her constituency.

What makes the story of Danasri Anasuya, alias Seethakka — the Congress MLA from Mulug constituency — extraordinary is her background. She was a Naxalite — an armed member of the ultra-leftist CPI-Maoist organisation, before entering active politics in early 2000. Seethakka, who had laid down arms after remaining underground for 11 years and joined politics on the invitation of the then chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, later pursued higher education. She is now a practising lawyer in Warangal.

Today, the same lady is seen trekking through hillocks, walking through difficult terrain, passing through forests and crossing streams, carrying heavy consignments of essential commodities under the scorching summer heat that sometimes soars up to 42 degrees Celsius. Seethakka (sister Seetha), supported by a handful of her supporters and volunteers from the area, undertook the mission of providing essential items of daily use and dry food to tribal families since the start of the lockdown. “I know what hunger is and I want to ensure that nobody sleeps hungry”, she said when asked why she was undergoing so much of hardship.

“There is no road connectivity to many of the tribal hamlets in my constituency and it is not possible to supply essential commodities and groceries to them through any other means,” she said, explaining the need for her to carry such a heavy load all the way.

This long and difficult trek is nothing new for her, though, as she wen as used to walking for long distances through forests and hillocks carrying weapons and other items when she was an active Maoist.

Since the lockdown came into effect, the lady has been seen walking for several kilometres everyday to deliver food and grocery items to the needy — many of whom live on top of hills that are not accessible by road.

Seethakka carries her stock of essential goods in a tractor to the last motorable point. From there onwards, the items are carried on shoulders right up to the inaccessible areas by herself and the other volunteers.

The MLA, who had started the ‘GoHungerGo’ challenge to ensure nobody remained hungry during the lockdown, has covered 356 villages and hamlets over the last 40 days to distribute the provisions.

“My Mulug constituency is the biggest constituency in Telangana. It has nearly 600 villages, most of them in forested and hilly areas. I started the ‘GoHungerGo’ challenge to meet the hunger of the people during the lockdown. I will continue with this work until the lockdown is over,” said the MLA who is known for her simplicity and easy accessibility.

Seethakka, who comes from a rural background but speaks good English, is also the first people’s representative from the state to foresee the danger from COVID-19, as she tried to raise an alarm. But, when she demanded that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao ensure sufficient supply of medical masks before the outbreak acquired serious proportions, she faced flak and ridicule. “Do you [really] need this for something that can be cured with paracetamols,” she was told derisively.

Initially, she was with Telugu Desam party and became an MLA in 2009 from Mulug, but she joined Congress before the last assembly elections and was elected to the state assembly in 2018 from the same constituency.

While a large number of social organisations, political parties and NGOs are active in the cities and towns, including the state capital of Hyderabad, to take care of needy families, the rural areas — particularly the remote habitations — have largely remained neglected so far as food distribution is concerned. Seethakka’s humanitarian efforts have come as a huge relief for all those marginal families.