Visakhapatnam: P D Kameswara Rao could have had a comfortable existence in the US as a researcher of nuclear physics, but he left his promising career to return to home to India to establish the Sodhana Charitable Trust in Cheepurupalle in Vizianagaram district to work for the rural poor. SCT, a social-service organisation, identifies rural issues and has been working for the benefit of the rural population since the last 40 years.Recently, Dr Rao was present at the Grameena Vidya Jyothi Programme - an awards function for meritorious rural high school children held at K Kotapadu mandal. Though hailing from a rural area, Rao pursued his studies in Hyderabad and then went abroad.“I was with Boston University for four years and spent another seven years with Rutgers University in New Jersey completing my research in nuclear physics. But I wanted to return to my native place, understand the rural issues and ways to improve the lives of villagers and in 1979 I founded SCT, which was registered as an NGO in 1983,” said Dr Rao, the founder-managing trustee of SCT.Asked about the changes in rural India he had witnessed in the last nearly four decades, Dr Rao said, “There’s much more awareness about education and women empowerment among rural students and women, which is a positive sign. Women are stepping out of their homes and taking part in various programmes and going to work. At the same time, quality education is not up to the mark. More awareness-generating government programmes are required regularly.”Also, he said, none of the governments have strengthened the base, the primary education and pre-school education is missing.“The anganwadis are inadequate in their role. There need to be trained volunteers to teach first and second standard kids in government schools. There is no monitoring of the teachers, be it their attendance or their qualification to teach or upgradation of knowledge.

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