Heart-Wrenching Battle Against Unemployment in Kuppam, A.P.: A Transformative Journey of Change
Kuppam’s Enduring Struggle: Migration and Ambitions for Development
Karuvadi Ganesh, 32, endures a four-hour commute between Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district and Bengaluru, Karnataka, to support his family of four on a modest monthly income of ₹18,000 as an electrician. Despite his ITI diploma, Ganesh has missed sunrises and sunsets in his hometown for the past decade. He isn’t alone in this struggle; thousands from Kuppam, spanning youth to seniors, make this daily journey due to lack of local job opportunities. Unemployment is rampant, forcing many to work as daily wage earners in Bengaluru.
Commuting daily to Bengaluru, Jayanthi, 55, works as a sanitation worker. She leaves Kuppam early and returns late, rarely seeing daylight in her hometown. Both Ganesh’s and Jayanthi’s stories echo a wider issue: Nearly 15,000 people from Kuppam and nearby areas commute daily to Karnataka’s cities for better wages.
Historically, Kuppam has been overlooked. Misconceptions about its location were evident when N.T. Rama Rao and later N. Chandrababu Naidu campaigned from the region. Although Naidu’s tenure brought some industrial developments, unemployment remains a critical issue as subsequent administrations neglected the region.
The region, home to 2.3 lakh voters, has seen waves of migration since the 1950s. Hopes for growth in micro-irrigation and other sectors dwindled after Naidu lost power in 2004. Though he returned as Chief Minister in 2014, his focus shifted to other high-profile projects, leaving Kuppam’s aspirations unmet.
Residents continue to hope for change with Naidu’s renewed focus on the region, aiming for extensive skill training, job creation in agriculture, and agro-industries. The revival of industrial parks and better infrastructure, including the much-anticipated airport project and improved road connectivity, are expected to attract investment and uplift the region economically. The envisioned transformation into an education hub and the establishment of food processing industries could potentially reshape Kuppam’s future.
Despite the challenges, the community remains hopeful for a brighter, more prosperous Kuppam, driven by promised infrastructural and educational advancements.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/unemployment-in-aps-kuppam-a-long-journey-to-change/article68419542.ece
Category : Andhra Pradesh
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