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Once Abducted by Maoists, This Andhra Boy Is Now a UPSC Rank Holder

Through his NGO, Akanksha, Vamsi is creating a rural education revolution. Aakanksha is sponsoring the education of more than 50 students.

Once Abducted by Maoists, This Andhra Boy Is Now a UPSC Rank Holder

In 2014, V Sai Vamsi Vardhan from Timmanayunipeta village of Kurnool district was abducted by Maoists when he was working as a Prime Minister’s Rural Development Fellow (PMRDF) in Jharkhand’s Giridh district.

He was targeted as he was travelling to many of the interior areas to undertake developmental activities like constructing roads and conducting Gram Sabhas.

Vamsi on top of Parasnath hills during his visit to Pipradih Naala for his work assignment as PMRDF in Jharkhand

The abduction, however, did not deter Vamsi’s rock-solid determination to work for the upliftment of people. Three years later, he has come out with flying colours in the Civil Services examination, having secured the 220th rank.

An elated Vamsi said, “I am extremely happy about the result. This rank gives stability to my activities towards society.”


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After leaving a lucrative job in Tata Consultancy Services, Vamsi started an NGO, Aakanksha Vfabs (Vision for a better society), in his home village.

The NGO aims to make Vamsi’s dream of ‘No child should be out of school due to financial constraints,’ a reality.

Students of Zilla Parishad high school, Timmanayunipeta learning to use computers.

Nurturing rural education revolution through Aakanksha:

Through his NGO, Vamsi is creating a rural education revolution. Aakanksha is sponsoring the education of more than 50 students across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Jharkhand.

Under its Project V25, Aakanksha is running a learning centre in Thimmanayunipeta village to provide after-school academic support to students of the local government school. Under this initiative, 35 students are getting free tuition, access to good learning material and training in games and sports.

Under its Project Digital Aasha, Aakanksha is setting up digital labs in rural government schools to transform rural classrooms into ‘smart classrooms’.

It also supports plantation activities in and around government schools.

Rural Development
Vamsi working as a PMRDF in Jharkhand’s Giridh district.

“So far we are able to mobilize around Rs 40 lakh for all these activities. We plan to extend sponsorship to 10 more students this year. We plan to establish 10 more V25 learning centres in 10 more villages of Kolimigundla Mandal in the next two or three years,” says Vamsi.

The results speak louder. So far, two students who got support from Aakanksha are doctors and one a software engineer. They are now supporting the education of other poor students. Two other students, Asifa and Asif, bagged national and international medals in various karate championships.

(Written by Prudhvi Vegesna)

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About the author: Prudhvi Vegesna is a Hyderabad based journalist who write on politics, public policy and development issues. He blogs at ideasforbetterindia.wordpress.com

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