CPI(M) district secretariat member K. Govinda Rao said the tribal people have decided to stage a protest with ‘dolis’ at the Primary Health Centre. File
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

As many as 13 children are suffering from fever for the past few days at Neredubandha, a hilltop tribal hamlet of Cheemalapadu panchayat of Ravikamatham mandal in Ankapalli district, in Andhra Pradesh.

Girijan Sangham leaders have sought immediate visit by district-level officials and holding of a health camp to treat the children.

The tribal people say that there are 14 tribal families, belonging to the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) ‘Kondh’ tribe, who have been living there since long. Children have been suffering with fever for the past three days. The village has no ASHA worker or an Anganwadi Centre. The children have to trek 6 km every day to reach their school at Z. Zogumpeta and back. They said that one of the children Killo Prabhas was already admitted to the Area Hospital at Narsipatnam while the remaining were suffering with fever in the village.

The officials have not undertaken malathion spraying in the hamlet on the plea that the name of the village is not in their records, say Pangi Chandrayya, Girijan Sangham district president, PVTG Sangham president Gemili Vasu. This was resulting in the proliferation of mosquitoes and spread of viral fevers.

CPI(M) district secretariat member K. Govinda Rao said the tribal people have decided to stage a protest with ‘dolis’ at the Primary Health Centre (PHC), if a medical camp was not organised in the village by the end of this week. He appealed to the Collector to visit the village and do justice to the people.

A scene from Jack and the Beans Talk
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

It is that time of year when the mango showers fall, bringing a welcome respite from the heat and a promise of fragrant, wholesome summer fruits. While one cannot predict the rain these days, the city’s music lovers can certainly enjoy the Mango Showers Music Festival — a three-day programme with a mixed bag of events.

When it was established in 2011, the primary purpose of the Majolly Music Trust was to aid aging musicians who were unable to land or perform gigs anymore. However, the Mango Showers Music Festival is a fundraiser to launch their newest initiative — a scholarship fund for students who want to study music but cannot afford to.

According to Neecia Majolly, founder of the Trust, a scholarship fund was always on their cards. “When it comes to Western classical music, there are no institutions in India for higher studies and students have to go abroad to pursue their passion,” Neecia says. “Now, this is not cheap and banks do not offer loans for music studies as they feel they are not a financially viable cause.”

Neecia says watching one of her own students run from pillar to post a few years ago, to raise the cash for her education, spurred her to get this fundraiser up and running. She does admit that while the event may not generate enough funds to cover the entire tuition for every aspiring student, it could ease their burden and raise awareness, hopefully benefiting more students over time.

Andreas Konig
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“All proceeds from the Mango Shower Music Festival will go towards the scholarship fund.”

Bengaluru-based musician Joey Sharma, who will be performing at the festival, says he and his band were glad to be part of the initiative when Neecia approached them a few months ago. “We’ll be playing a genre of music called gypsy jazz, a style pioneered by Django Reinhardt, a Belgian guitarist,” he says, adding that audiences could expect melodies “reminiscent of Woody Allen movies with a modern touch.”

A musical titled Jack and the Beans Talk, with an original score and script will be presented, as well as a performance by German pianist Andreas Konig. Andreas who will be presenting a Western classical piano recital on April 27, will also be conducting a master class with piano students at Odyssey School of Music, earlier in the day.

The Mango Shower Music Festival will take place from April 25-27.Donor passes cost ₹449, ₹225 for children below eight years. For bookings and other details call 8494930941