Dear Friends,

Some of you may know about unthinkable and un imaginable fire tragedy happened on May 19th, 2004 in a poor and farming village, Kudaravalli, Krishna Distrct. Please see the attached News Item from Andhra Bhoomi for detailed information. 38 houses and another 12 shelters for cows and buffaloes have been burnt completely in short time due to midday summer heat and high winds and it effected 50 families. It was too late to stop the fire as fire Engines have to come from 10 miles or more. However it would have been worse if they did not get fire engines with in an hour or so. But all people are lucky as no body got injured in this tragic accident.

This village is about 10 miles from Gudivada ( Krishna ) and 10 miles from Eluru and has a population about 2300. Most of the village population is poor and work in the fields of middle class farmers. Financially, it is very hard for the village to come up with any funds even if they get matching grants from the sate government but the village provides free labor work force for the project. The villagers have been suffering from contaminated drinking water for ages. Valluripalli family living in USA initiated a water project to provide clean water to the village by contributing 200,000 Rupees of village corpus fund and the state government provided the remaining money. The same family contributed funds to build an Elementary and Middle School buildings in early 80′s. Koneru family helped to build Veterinary Hospital in mid 80′s. Now this is a large-scale disaster need help of many people to make permanent buildings for about 32 families, who are very poor and very few of them may have 1 or 2 acres of land.

GWTCS is appealing to make tax-deductible contributions from our community so that we can provide them permanent houses (Every house with bricks and non-combustible material). The state government gives only 25000 Rupees for each house but the minimum cost of each permanent house is about Rupees 70000 excluding free labor provided by the villagers. The village needs to get private contributions of about $32000 to build a Colony for all these 32 families. An individual contribution of $25 0r $50 or $ 100 from generous people can help to complete this project. The Telugu Association or Associations name will be displayed in front of this Colony. An individual name or designated name will be displayed on the house and in front of the Colony if the individual contribution is $1000. Families of Valluripalli, Koneru Anjaneyulu and Polavarapu Baburao, hailing from Kudaravalli, are helping with their own contributions. Such a large task warrants help of our friends, contribution of $25 is not much to us, but a lot for disadvantaged and unfortunate people to have their dream houses in a poor village.

GWTCS appeal all our community to send their tax deductible contributions payable to GWTCS with a note on the bottom of check ” For Kudaravalli Fire Victims “.

Please mail the checks to the address given below.

Sivakumar Tadikonda

Treasurer- GWTCS

2125 Glen Course LN,

Reston, VA 20191