Remote village spruced up for President's visit

Gulbarga, Feb 22 (UNI) The long wait of the 6,000-odd villagers of Srinivas Saradgi in this backward district of Karnataka for basic amenities is finally over, with President A P J Abdul Kalam visiting the tiny obscure village, on February 25.

The village, one of the 1,012 villages selected by the Karnataka Government for development under the 'Suvarna Gramodhaya' scheme, was being spruced up ahead of the VVIP visit.

Official sources said the President would formally launch the Suvarna Gramodaya scheme and open a newly laid concrete road, besides planting a sapling in the gram panchayat office premises.

With the first citizen's visit being confirmed, a host of activities were being carried out in the village, under the supervision of a number of Government officials daily. While the three-km stretch of road linking the village and the main road was being relaid, Government buildings, post office and a primary school have got a fresh coat of paint. Forest officials have started planting saplings in and around the village.

''Our continuous appeals to the leaders to provide us basic amenities have so far fell only on deaf ears. But, now everything is being provided overnight,'' a village elder told UNI.

However, mention of the President's name did not ring a bell for many villagers and farm labourers. ''We know that a big leader is coming to our village. Except that, we do not know anything. But, we are very excited to see him,'' they chorused.

Policemen, intelligence personnel and special security group were searching every nook and corner of the village as part of a security drill.

Besides Mr Kalam, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and Union Minister of State for Planning M V Rajasekharan would participate in the programme. Later, Mr Kalam would leave for Hyderabad by a helicopter.

UNI