“For the past 10 years, we’ve been relentlessly doing social service through My People Welfare Organisation. Though my mother’s family is from Vijayawada and my in-laws are from Penugonda, West Godavari, Khammam has been my home for the last 20 years.

Our mission began with a focus on Girls and Women’s Health and Wealth, under the motto Ativaku Vidya Aarogyam – Samajam Lo Saubhagyam (Education and Health for Women is Prosperity for Society). In 2015, we officially established My People Welfare Organisation to expand our efforts in tackling critical social issues. The organization works in areas like education, health, gender equality, child and youth development, and food and nutrition.

Over time, we’ve expanded our reach to tackle other social issues, including tribal welfare, menstrual hygiene, and sanitation awareness programs. We also work on empowering women through self-employment initiatives, such as providing sewing machines to help them earn a livelihood. But the recent floods in Khammam have pushed us into action like never before.

The Munnuru River floods devastated this area—entire homes disappeared underwater, crops were ruined, and thousands of people were displaced in just a few hours. The scenes were heartbreaking—families stranded on rooftops, roads completely washed away, and no access to basic necessities like food, clean water, or electricity.

Since the 1st of this month, we’ve been working around the clock to support those affected. We’ve distributed food, water, and other essentials, set up temporary shelters, and are doing everything we can to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases, especially with stagnant floodwaters everywhere. Many of our volunteers are working day and night, despite a severe lack of funding locally. To keep up with the needs, we’ve teamed up with other organizations from outside the area, pooling our resources to ensure no one is left behind.

I’ve always believed that the more we harm nature, the more we suffer in return. These floods are a painful reminder of that.

Human negligence—whether it’s unplanned urban development, deforestation, or ignoring environmental safeguards—has made natural disasters like this even worse. We need to understand that if we continue to neglect nature, we’ll face even bigger challenges.

Looking ahead, it’s not just about immediate relief. We’re committed to helping families rebuild their lives and educating the community on how to live in harmony with the environment. Women and children have been particularly vulnerable during this crisis, so our work will focus on their health and well-being as we move forward.

This experience has reminded me of the strength we have when we stand together. Khammam will recover, but we need to learn from this and take better care of both our community and the environment.”

• Sridevi Madi Reddy, President of My People Welfare Organisation