From ragpicker to ward member: Tribal woman creates history in Kothagudem

A tribal woman from Kothagudem, who earned her livelihood by collecting waste, has been elected as a gram panchayat ward member. Backed by the BRS, her victory is being hailed as a symbol of social change.

Kothagudem: From the daily routine of collecting trash and plastic waste and selling it to make a living, a tribal woman here is scripting history by getting elected as a gram panchayat ward member.

Sriramula Triveni, a resident of Rudrampur, contested for the eleventh ward reserved for Scheduled Tribes in Rudrampur gram panchayat of Chunchupalli mandal with the support of the BRS. Much to her joy, the voters in the ward gave her a resounding victory as she got elected with a majority of 137 votes.

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With the aim of providing an opportunity to women from the most underprivileged sections of society, Chunchupalli mandal BRS president Gudelli Yakaaiah had fielded Triveni in the elections in the second phase of gram panchayat elections held on Sunday.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Yakaaiah said this was not just the victory of one individual.

“This stands as a victory of democracy over poverty, despair and ridicule. Triveni’s journey from a life of daily struggle to public service will instil new hope among women,” he said.

The election of a woman from a poor family as a public representative, having earned the trust of the people, stands as a testament to social change. It will boost the morale of the poor, especially in the village, to overcome their limitations, he added.

Triveni said the victory she achieved was made possible only due to the efforts of BRS leaders Yakaaiah, Sankubapana Anudeep, former sarpanch Gummadi Sagar, Kannaiah, Amudala Anil and others who encouraged her to contest as a ward member and worked for her victory.

She said she would remain indebted to the BRS and its leaders for their support, adding that she would serve and be available to the people who voted for her and ensured her victory.

Wishes poured in for Triveni from the villagers, women’s groups and social activists, who opined that such victories would definitely serve as an inspiration to many more poor families.