Vijayawada: In a major boost to NTR district’s fight against poverty, people from Vijayawada who have settled across the globe are stepping in to support the P4 (People–Public–Private–Partnership for Poverty Reduction) scheme. Nearly 900 Non-Resident Vijayawadians (NRVs), known for their active involvement in social service across Andhra Pradesh, are now being encouraged to mentor vulnerable families back home.Recognising their success stories and philanthropic spirit, the NTR district administration is tapping into this global network to assist ‘Bangaru Kutumbams’ (Golden Families) — economically weaker households identified for upliftment under the P4 policy.Taking this initiative forward, District Collector Dr G Lakshmisha recently held a special meeting with a group of NRVs and members of the PB Siddhartha College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Association at the Collectorate. “NRVs are ideal partners in this mission. They’ve seen success across the world and are now ready to give back to their roots. The P4 policy is a path to eliminate poverty by 2029 by connecting the top 10% of society to uplift the bottom 20%,” the collector said.He added that 86,398 golden families have already been identified in the district, of which 30,617 families have been adopted by 3,897 volunteer guides. The administration now hopes that more NRVs will join hands in guiding these families in skill development, employment, self-employment, and access to health services.NRVs including P Suresh, Y Manidhar and Harshasai pledged their involvement in the initiative. P B Siddhartha alumni members Swaroop, A Prashant Chowdhury, G S C Bose, and Sumabindu Atluri also assured their support.Collector Lakshmisha emphasised that this global-local partnership will not only combat poverty but also enhance Vijayawada’s identity as a city of entrepreneurship, culture, and compassion.
