Latest news with #RuralDevelopmentTrust
Hans India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
All party meet held to protect RDT NGO
Vijayawada: All political parties meeting has stressed the need for the protection of the Rural Development Trust, which was formed 56 years ago in Anantapur and has been rendering services to the people of two Telugu states. The Left parties, Congress, NGOs and civil society organizations participated in the meeting held at the Dasari Bhavan here on Tuesday and discussed the service activities of the Rural Development Trust (RDT) and steps to be taken to protect the NGO. The CPI State secretary K Ramakrishna, CPM State secretary K Srinivasa Rao, Congress party leader K Vinay Kumar, Jana Chaitanya Vedika State president V Lakshmana Reddy and others spoke on the occasion. Ramakrishna said Vincent Ferror had formed the RDT in 1969 and since then the NGO has been doing excellent services to all irrespective of caste, religion and region. He said the RDT has been doing services to the people in the field of health, education, scientific awareness, supply of drinking water etc. V Srinivasa Rao has underlined the need to protect the RDT. He said the NGO has been doing excellent service without anticipating any profit. He said it is unfortunate that Central government is implementing strict policies and preventing the aid from other countries to the RDT. TDP leader Y Prabhakar Chowdary, Jana Chaitanya Vedika president V Lakshmana Reddy said the RDT is doing service activities in 3877 villages in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Former Minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao alleged the Central government is showing discrimination against the NGOs run with the aid from other countries. The All parties leaders decided to meet N Chandrababu Naidu to request the latter to save the RDT.
Hans India
11-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Ministers discuss humanitarian services with RDT director
Anantapur: Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav and Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav met with RDT (Rural Development Trust) Director Manco Ferrer to discuss the organisation's long-standing humanitarian services in drought-prone areas of the region. During the meeting, Minister Satyakumar recalled that he had previously written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting the renewal of RDT's FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) registration. The letter highlighted RDT's apolitical and consistent efforts in improving education, healthcare, sanitation, and housing for the poor and middle-class communities in the drought-hit regions of Andhra Pradesh. Minister Satyakumar urged that the organisation be removed from the 'Prior Approval Category' and that necessary documents for FCRA renewal be promptly sent to the Central Government. He assured Director Ferrer that the State government stands firmly in support of initiatives that contribute to public welfare.
Hans India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
CM promises support for RDT amid FCRA concerns
Amaravathi: MLAs from the erstwhile Anantapur district have urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to take immediate steps to resolve the ongoing Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) issue affecting the Rural Development Trust (RDT). The organisation, which has been instrumental in providing healthcare and development services in rural areas of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, has seen its foreign funding halted due to the cancellation of its FCRA registration by the Central government. MLAs Kalva Srinivasulu, Paritala Sunitha, Bandaru Sravani, Alimineni Surendra Babu, and Daggupati Venkateswara Prasad met the Chief Minister at the Secretariat and submitted a memorandum seeking his intervention. They highlighted that RDT's work in remote villages is heavily dependent on foreign donations and that the recent restrictions have disrupted essential services. The Centre reportedly revoked the registration over allegations that funds were being used for purposes outside the approved scope of the organisation. The MLAs stated that depositing funds into local contribution accounts has become problematic, impacting ongoing projects. They also noted that the Trust is actively seeking the renewal of its FCRA licence. Chief Minister Naidu assured the delegation that he would bring the matter to the attention of the Central government and take necessary steps to support the Trust's reinstatement. RDT's work has long been regarded as vital to underdeveloped areas, and the MLAs stressed that resolving the issue promptly is crucial for the continuation of services to the needy.
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Denial of FCRA renewal hits RDT's life-changing services
ANANTAPUR: The Rural Development Trust (RDT), an NGO serving marginalised rural communities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana since 1969, is facing a crisis following the non-renewal of its Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence. Dedicated to sustainable development across education, healthcare, women's empowerment, disability-inclusive growth, ecology, and livelihoods, RDT has transformed the lives of over 4,50,000 families across 3,906 villages. The denial of FCRA renewal now threatens to severely disrupt its operations and jeopardise the futures of the communities it supports. The RDT operates three hospitals in Anantapur district, providing critical healthcare services, including specialised treatments and emergency care. Annually, these facilities handle 8.5 lakh outpatient visits, 60,000 inpatient admissions, 15,000 deliveries, and 15,000 surgeries. They also offer HIV care for 4,900 individuals and have performed 26 bone marrow transplants for children with thalassemia. Employing 691 healthcare professionals, including 37 DNB residents annually, these hospitals risk closure without FCRA funding, cutting off essential health services to thousands of rural residents. RDT's education programmes have been instrumental in transforming the lives of rural youth by ensuring access to quality education, scholarships, and vocational training. Since 2004, 2,697 students have benefited from higher education scholarships, boasting a 67% employment rate among graduates. The trust has achieved 100% enrolment and retention rates among remote communities like the Chenchu tribe and distributed 40,891 bicycles to improve school attendance. Gutturu Lavanya, a beneficiary of RDT's support, recently secured State Rank No. 1 and All India Rank 65 in the NEET PG 2024 exam, crediting RDT for making her dream possible. The RDT's programmes for inclusive education and disability rehabilitation have created transformative opportunities for thousands. They operate five inclusive residential schools, offer job training for disabled youth, run a successful Special Olympics programme, and provide essential mobility aids. The story of Obi Reddy, who was visually impaired from birth and supported by RDT, is a testament to the organisation's impact. He is now an Assistant Manager at the Central Bank of India, earning Rs 81,000 a month.
