Arikepudi Raghu wins Governor’s Award for Excellence in helping differnetly-abled

Meet Arikepudi Raghu, who has been selected for the first-ever Governor's Awards for Excellence-2024. Raghu has reached out to thousands of such people during the last two decades and was selected for the word for his work on the welfare of the differently-abled

Sangareddy: His day begins very early searching news articles in the newspaper for human interest stories. After spending a few hours going through newspapers, he zeroes in on a person whom needs help.

Meet Arikepudi Raghu, who has been selected for the first-ever Governor’s Awards for Excellence-2024. Raghu has reached out to thousands of such people during the last two decades and was selected for the word for his work on the welfare of the differently-abled. He started his journey by supporting differently-abled woman Marathamma, who had arrived at the Sangareddy Collectorate in 2017 seeking a three-wheeler vehicle. Since Marathamma was an intermediate student then, officials of the disabled welfare department could not give a vehicle for her because only degree and PG students were eligible under the scheme. After coming to know about her struggles, Raghu, a retired BDL-Bhanur employee, mobilised funds from his friends and colleagues and bought her a vehicle.

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Wives of BDL employees also extended another Rs 35,000 to help Marathamma set up a self-employment unit at S Itikyal village in Jogipet mandal. Continuing his work, Raghu reached out to over 500 differently-abled people by supporting them in various ways. He would visit them and extend support after talking to them about what their needs were. Raghu also personally accompanied them to hospitals if they needed any treatment.

After coming to know about his work with the differently-abled, USA-based Hope 4 Spandana partnered with him to reach out to the physically challenged and fluorosis victims in Telangana. He also set up self-employment units for 110 physically challenged persons across the State. Since Hope 4 Spandana also wanted to distribute regular medical kits to people suffering from muscular dystrophy and spinal cord issues, he facilitated the monthly medical kit distribution to 100 such people in the Telugu States. Raghu and Hope for 4 Spandana also reached out to 150 fluorosis victims by giving groceries, wheelchairs and other benefits in Munugode constituency of Nalgonda district.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Raghu said the moving tales of people who were in need was his motivating force. His aim is to reach out to at least 1,000 other differently-abled persons in his life besides supporting widows of farmers by distributing milch buffaloes and also to help orphaned children. Raghu, who had started social service activity as a BDL employee, founded Raghu Arikepudi Trust to carry out the services post his retirement in 2024.