Another hour of drifting and we reach the next village, the 42 household Parentapalli. This village is in a better state. The hutments have better construction, there is less of visible poverty. A group of women near a Temple-cum-Ashram wash utensils from a ‘would be’ micro hydro source, a stream flowing down the mountain.



The temple partly seems to be the reason for somewhat better fortunes in this village and the temple activities perhaps are intertwined with the livelihoods. According to Ganesh, The village is a pilgrim centre due to the Temple & Ashram. People from nearby villages and districts visit the village regularly. During non-rainy seasons at least 200 to 300 people visit the village. For livelihoods, the villagers also depend on Cashew nut and Fishing business. ITDA provides fishing nets to some of the villagers. Businessmen (in fishing business) come to this village from Polavaram, supplying the villagers with necessary boats, nets etc. for catching fish. They even carry ice with them to keep the catch fresh. Since the villagers don’t have sufficient boats and cold- storage facilities, they can’t market their fish directly and depend on these businessmen/ middlemen only. This is a good case for decentralized micro hydro and perhaps of linking the power generation with mineral water, which can be ferried to Rajahmundry, the nearest town down the river. There are other possibilities for renewable energy use such as Cashew nut drying or ice making for storing fish. Some villagers come forward to discuss this. The first villager who buttons up his shirt and comes forward to talk in the village is the entrepreneur, says Somu with conviction.



A man close to his roots but with his prized possession, the Transistor - a way to stay in touch with the civilization.

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