The village was named after the IAS officer as a token of respect for his service to the region. A combo image of the nameboard and V. Vishnu, IAS.Thiruvananthapuram: The 100-odd residents of a hamlet tucked in a remote location in Vagaikulam village in Manthiyoor panchayat of Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district have walked that extra mile to say ‘thanks’ in a special and unusual manner to an IAS officer who brought light into their lives.
The village, which did not have even a name, let alone electricity or drinking water, for several decades, is proud to have these basic amenities and, more importantly, an identity now, thanks to the relentless efforts of V. Vishnu, a Malayali IAS officer, who is serving as the sub-collector of Cheranmahadevi revenue division.
The villagers have repaid their debt of gratitude to the officer who took care of them by naming the hamlet after him – Vishnu Nagar. Though he had requested them to drop that idea, the villagers politely refused his plea and erected a signboard bearing his name in the heart of the village.
For decades, the village had remained backward as developmental programs did not properly reach its people. Basic amenities such as electricity, water and roads were a distant dream for them.
The official realized the plight of the 30 families residing in the tiny hamlet during a visit to the place in connection with a local issue a few months ago.
The villagers informed Vishnu that they were forced to do without even basic civic amenities for a long time. They had knocked on every possible door for redress, but to no avail, they told him.
During that visit, he had met students who completed their degree fighting all odds.
Moved by the pathetic condition of the village, he promised them to take necessary measures to address their problems. Keeping his word, the official immediately convened a joint meeting of various departments and instructed the authorities concerned to initiate actions towards creating basic infrastructure in the area.
As usual, red tape and bureaucratic delays reared their ugly heads, but the Sub-Collector stood firm and cleared all hurdles with determination to help the villagers realize their long-pending dreams.
The entire village was electrified in four months’ time. A new road was constructed using the government land and tap water connection was provided to every household.
The sub-collector did not stop there. He also ensured that the benefits of various government schemes, including pensions, reached the eligible ones in the locality.
“I tried to stop them from naming the village after me. I told them that I was just discharging my duties but they were steadfast in their resolve," he said.
Vishnu, a native of Kochi, joined the IAS after securing the seventh rank in the Civil Services Examination held in 2011-12. His wife Nandini is an Indian Revenue Service officer.
