Raichur Habba sees bullocks pulling 2.5 tonne boulder in a competition
The Hindu
Minister for Minor Irrigation, Science and Technology N.S. Boseraju launched the third-day programmes organised to mark Mungaru Samskritika Raichur Habba as part of Karahunnime in Raichur on Monday.
Minister for Minor Irrigation, Science and Technology N.S. Boseraju launched the third-day programmes organised to mark Mungaru Samskritika Raichur Habba as part of Karahunnime in Raichur on Monday.
He then offered puja to a boulder before pairs of bullocks participated in a boulder pulling competition.
The Minister said that Munnuru Kapu Samaj has been organising this annual sports and cultural festival for the last 23 years on its own, without any financial aid from the government.
“Raichur MP Raja Amareshwar Naik and myself will try our best to organise this festival from the government side as the event has successfully attracted people in large numbers,” he added.
Meanwhile, several pairs of bullocks pulled a boulder weighing 2.50 tonnes in a competition amid cheering from the gathering.
The first prize of ₹90,000 in cash went to the pair of bullocks belonging to Akhilesh Reddy of Yadareddy village in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh for pulling the boulder to a distance of 2,451 feet in the given 20 minutes.
The second prize of ₹75,000 in cash went to the bullocks of Nagaiah from P.R. Palya village in Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh for pulling the boulder to a distance of 2,234 ft. The third prize of ₹65,000 in cash went to the bullocks of Chella Prasanna Reddy of Nadargulla village in Rangareddy district of Telangana for pulling the boulder to a distance of 2,163 feet.
More than 2.6 lakh village and ward volunteers in Andhra Pradesh, once celebrated as the government’s grassroots champions for their crucial role in implementing welfare schemes, are now in a dilemma after learning that their tenure has not been renewed after August 2023 even though they have been paid honoraria till June 2024. Disowned by both YSRCP, which was in power when they were appointed, and the current ruling TDP, which made a poll promise to double their pay, these former volunteers are ruing the day they signed up for the role which they don’t know if even still exists