Ham Radio is her Passion, Serving the people is
Motive
RAMESH BABU ARZA VU2RDM
Parvataneni
Rajitha Kishore from Vijayawada got a Ham Radio license from the Minister of
Communication in the year 1986. She completed her Diploma in Electronics and
Communication Engineering from the Krishnaveni Mahila Polytechnic College run
by the Vijayawada Exhibition Society. After completing of Post-Graduation in
sociology through the BR Ambedkar Open University, She obtained a Bachelor of
Law degree from Kakatiya University. She got a Diploma in Disaster Management
from the IGNO University and obtained training in all levels of incident
command system (ICS) a US aid project organised by the Government of Andhra
Pradesh. She attended several training programmes in Disaster Management
organised by NDMA and NIDM and obtained certificates.
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| Providing Ham training to the students of Sainik School Korukonda. |
She received several awards for her meritorious services. She also received the ‘Best Youth Award’ in the year 2000 from the hands of the Chief Minister of the then Andhra Pradesh. She was also selected for the ‘Naveena Award’ in the year 2006 instituted by the ‘TV9’ a prime-time news channel.
After
marrying Mr Kishore, she has become a resident of Venkataya Palem in Khammam District. The
couple has a son and daughter. Son Raghu doing a Master of Surgeon in Mamata
Medical College, Khammam and daughter Likhita has been sent to the USA for obtaining
Higher education after completion of his MBBS Degree.
On the
one hand, she manages her responsibilities as an employee and never neglects
her family responsibilities as a housewife. She is also having good support
from her family members in fulfilling her responsibility of participating in
every Emergency operation.
She has
been continuing in the Khammam collector’s office with the lowest salary
despite having higher educational qualifications. Even though, she is eligible to get better
employment with good emoluments. She prefers to continue her because of her
passion for this communication activity
‘Ham radio’.
Her
communication services through Ham radio are invaluable when communications are
disrupted during disasters such as storms, floods and earthquakes. She has got
a better understanding of to various flood levels of Bhadrachalm and likely
affected places. It is no exaggeration to say that she has more practical
knowledge than any other officer of a revenue department regarding flood relief
operations. She has got vast experience of continuously working with many
officers for the last 30 years in Bhadrachalma flood area.
In 1990
biggest ever core of hurricane wreaked havoc and caused huge losses to lives
and properties. The impact of gale winds touching up to 200 kmph caused blowing
away of tiled roofs and uprooting of trees. Extensive damage was caused to Road
communications and telecommunications.
Immediately Hams were plunged into action by providing emergency
communication to various key points. In
that context, Rajita along with her colleague operator Mumtaz Arif Khan VU2KAN
were deployed in a small village surrounding Vijayawada for taking part in
Emergency communication.
On that
occasion, the then former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited the
cyclone-affected areas with the then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Sree Chenna Reddy. They halted for a brief time to
take a rest in the State guest house of Vijayawada where already a Ham Set was
installed and kept ready for the operation. Since the late prime Minister was
an active Ham immediately he strike a conversation with the available Radio
Hams working for that calamity. Rajeev Gandhi got first-hand information about
the damages directly from the hams working in those typhoon-affected
areas.
On that
occasion, Rajitha & Mumtaz, the duo got a chance to directly interact with
the late Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi through Ham and communicated about the
latest situation in which they were working. Rajeev Gandhi appreciated the Hams
for rendering their voluntary services in that toughest situation. Rajita often tells his friends, that she
can’t afford to forget those wonderful moments of having the rare opportunity
to directly interact with such a towering personality, as Rajeev Gandhi.
In the year 1991, Former Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi used to visit many parts of the country on a special Plane before the
Parliamentary general elections. He preferred to talk through Ham Radio, set
arranged in a Special jet rather than talking to political leaders travelling
along with him. It shows clearly, his strong passion for this scientific
Communication Hobby.
In those
Days, Parvataneni Rajitha along with her
colleague Lakshmi VU3VLK used to stay in a guest house situated in Kakinada Collector's office to provide Ham
Radio training to the then East Godavari District revenue employees. Once,
Rajitha was monitoring on High-frequency Ham Radio, suddenly she heard the
voice of a former prime minister calling a general call. Immediately she turned
up her transmitter and replied “VU2RG this VU2UIC”. Then Rajiv Gandhi replied,
“VU2UIC this is VU2RG your report is 59”. In turn, Rajita answered, “VU2RG this
is VU2UIC, My name is Rajita and my present QTH is Kakinada and your report is
also 59”. “What are you? and what is the purpose of staying in Kakinada?’ Rajiv
Gandhi asked Rajita. After getting all the detailed information from Rajita,
Rajeev Gandhi appreciated her for involving the activities of Ham Radio and
providing training to the Government employees whose services are key to
dealing with any emergencies.
In 1991,
a special training camp was organized at Korukonda Military School,
Vizianagaram. He stayed there with her colleague operator Mrs Lakshmi to train
the students in Ham radio and showed them practically how radio works, how to
communicate during natural calamities, etc. and enhanced their passion for ham
radio.
It is no
exaggeration to say that till now no woman in the whole of India has directly
participated in natural calamities and has gone into the field and provided
information services like Rajita. Men also hesitate, to go to flooded areas and
work through ham radio. Braving all the ads Rajitha has shown great courage and
provided information services and has received much applause not only from the
government but also from the people.
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| Receiving appreciations from the Chief Minister of AP |
In 2001,
there was an earthquake in the Kutch district of Gujarat which caused severe
damage. Due to the earthquake, all those houses were destroyed and became
uninhabitable. Ham radio operators were flown in special planes by the then
Andhra Pradesh government to provide information services in earthquake-prone
areas. She reached Gujarat by a special plane and provided invaluable services
to the people of the place and deserved the praise of the authorities. She
received praise from the then Gujarat Chief Minister Keshu Bhai Patel and
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for her services.
Medaram
Jatara is organized in Telangana every two years with great pomp. Crores of
devotees come from all over the country to participate in this Medaram fair. As
part of the arrangements for this fair, a communication system has been
established so that communication can take place from one place to another
where Mrs Rajita provided Very good services.
Now the
Godavari River has flooded many low-lying areas like never before in a living
history of hundred years. Some officials under the direction of the collector
from Khammam district have camped in Bhadrachalam and are reviewing the
situation from time to time. Rajitha is also a member of that team and
regularly collects information through phone and available VHF sets and
provides it to the authorities. As a woman, it is great to camp and serves in
flooded areas facing harsh conditions. Rajitha is a role model for everyone,
especially for women, who is serving without regard to her health in the
current situation where the coronavirus is lurking in places where there is a
possibility of epidemics due to floods.
