Migrants from Palamuru District Face Harsh Living Conditions in Hyderabad
Migrants from the Palamuru district, many of whom hail from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s Kodangal assembly constituency, are living in dire conditions in Hyderabad. These individuals, once traditional ‘Burrakatha’ folk artists from southern Telangana, have been forced to take up work as garbage collectors in the city.
Around 150 families reside in Budagajanga Basti, where they face inhuman living conditions due to decades of neglect by the authorities. With no proper amenities like electricity or running water, daily life is a constant struggle. Residents have reported a decline in life expectancy, with numerous health issues affecting the community. On January 2, a 45-year-old resident named Krishna succumbed to prolonged illness after battling paralysis and a brain infection. “In every household, at least one person suffers from a serious illness. Paralysis has become alarmingly common, even among children,” said M. Laxman, a resident of the basti. He pointed out Sunil, a 30-year-old laborer who recently suffered a stroke, as an example of the deteriorating health conditions, while Sunil’s wife Meena expressed her despair.
The situation is even more heartbreaking for Laxman’s younger brother, who is raising four children, three of whom are completely blind. M. Ganesh, another resident, struggles to care for his seven-year-old son and two daughters, aged five and two, all of whom are 100% blind. “We can’t focus on work because of the daily challenges of raising them. Despite having certificates proving their blindness, there’s no government support, and sending them to distant blind schools is impossible,” lamented Ganesh.
Most families in the basti face similar struggles, as they fail to receive benefits under various government schemes. Durgamma, an elderly woman, shared her frustration about not receiving a pension under the Prajapalana scheme, despite repeated applications. Other residents also complained about the difficulties of accessing basic benefits, such as pensions for the physically handicapped or caste certificates, which reportedly require bribes of up to ₹5,000. “Only a few of us got pensions during the YSR government. Since then, we’ve faced complete neglect,” recalled Laxman.
The garbage collectors in the basti, who received subsidized vehicles from the government, serve areas like Tolichowki, Shaikpet, Gudimalkapur, Mehdipatnam, Karwan, Golconda, and parts of Rajendranagar. Despite their hard work, they earn only ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 per month. Budagajanga Basti, which spans 2.5 acres near Gudimalkapur, has poor sewerage and drinking water facilities. “For 150 houses, there is just one tap connection. This causes daily struggles for the residents. I urge the government to resolve their issues and improve their living conditions,” said Osman Al-Hajri, a Congress party candidate from Karwan who has been advocating for the community.
Residents also voiced their disappointment with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who had promised to address their problems during his election campaign. They were assured of 2BHK housing, but no officials have visited the basti for surveys. Currently, around 10 families are forced to share a single bathroom, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Residents are now appealing to the government to fulfill its promises and provide them with the basic necessities they desperately need.
