The Munugode assembly seat in south Telangana—where a byelection was forced because the sitting Congress MLA resigned and switched to the BJP—is marked by two diminishing peculiarities. The first being its affinity to the Reds. Ever since the constituency came into being in 1967, the Communist Party of India has won five assembly elections here. The last win, however, was in 2009. “The modern election practices have made it difficult for parties like us,” said former CPI MLA Palla Venkat Reddy. “There is heavy flow of money everywhere.”
The second peculiarity is that Munugode was once on the global map for widespread fluorosis. The high fluoride content in the groundwater led to physical deformities among residents, most notably stunted growth. So acute was the problem that international agencies would frequently pitch in with resources and ideas, without much success.
The disease spurred local activism. In 1996, nearly 500 people fought the Nalgonda Lok Sabha election (which covers Munugode assembly) to highlight their demand for proper drinking water. In 2003, two people with fluorosis—standing at under three foot because of skeletal deformities—were introduced to then Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee in his Delhi office.
“Thousands in this constituency were affected and many died in front of my eyes,” recalls 52-year-old Kanchukotla Subash, convener of the Fluorosis Vimukthi Porata Samithi.
There has, however, been a turnaround over the years and, in 2020, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (formerly the Telangana Rashtra Samithi) government declared that the state had eliminated fluorosis.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock