Bangarpet Taluk, Karnataka | May 31, 2025 — In a concerted effort to advance inclusive rural development, Dr. Bhavani Rao, Dean of the Amrita School of Social and Behavioural Sciences and Director of AMMACHI Labs, led a dedicated team on a full-day field visit across three villages in Bangarpet Taluk. The visit aimed to assess local needs, foster grassroots engagement, and lay the groundwork for future interventions under AMMACHI Labs’ various social impact initiatives.

🏡 Village Engagements

Kanimbele Village
The team received a warm welcome from Gram Panchayat President Manjunath, who hosted a planning meeting at his residence. Joined by former President Srinivas and other Panchayat leaders, the community leadership formally endorsed Amrita University’s proposed initiatives and pledged active support for implementation efforts.

Hallipura Village
Home to 30 households, Hallipura is a small, predominantly Muslim community formed by families who migrated from nearby Ombathugulli village two decades ago. Despite land allocation by the government, the village continues to struggle with:

• Poor road infrastructure

• Limited access to clean drinking water

• Absence of educational facilities

• Few livelihood opportunities

Women in the village voiced a strong desire for home-based livelihood options, seeking greater economic security and empowerment through local, sustainable means.

Karmangala Village
In Karmangala, the team was hosted by Murali, a socially active local leader. Dr. Rao introduced AMMACHI Labs’ Gender-Based Violence (GBV) project, emphasizing the importance of village surveys and mapping to guide targeted interventions. The community responded with enthusiasm, committing to support student-led activities.

The team also met Ms. Nagarathna, a Seva Pratinidhi managing 60 self-help groups under the Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project. She pledged her full support to mobilize her network in support of the GBV initiative across Karmangala and neighboring areas.

🏛️ Institutional Collaborations

Child Development Project Office (CDPO)
The team met with Mr. Muniraju, who discussed issues such as gender-based violence, school dropout rates, and local data collection. He recommended working closely with ASHA workers and offered to facilitate a meeting with the Tahsildar for expanded government collaboration.

Rural Drinking Water & Sanitation Department
Discussions centered on the Jal Jeevan Mission, water testing, and purification systems in alignment with Dr. Victoria Ustenko’s water project at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.

Local Police Station
At the local police station, the team met Station House Officer Mrs. Rekha, presenting AMMACHI Labs’ initiatives and plans to ensure community safety and effective coordination during project rollouts.