Mercedes-Benz presents two multipurpose vehicles to Parvatipuram-Manyam district in Andhra Pradesh

The vehicles would have audio-video facilities to highlight the welfare schemes of both the Union and State Governments. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Parvatipuram-Manyam district received two multi-purpose vehicles, specially designed by Mercedes Benz, thanks to the initiative of Niti Aayog, which accepted the proposal submitted by the District Collector A. Shyam Prasad. Speaking to The Hindu, the Collector said the vehicles would enable the District Administration to meet the various needs of tribal people living in remote areas of Palakonda, Kurupam, Gummalakshmipuram, Makkuva, Saluru, and other mandals.

He said the multipurpose vehicles will be used as mobile Giri Bazaars and to promote government welfare schemes meant for tribals. He thanked both Niti Aayog and Mercedes-Benz for sanctioning two vehicles under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

According to him, the vehicles will have audio-video facilities to highlight the welfare schemes of both the Union and State Governments. The officials and staff can also travel in the vehicles to create awareness among the tribals about the schemes and their benefits. On normal days, they function like Giri Bazaars and enable tribals to buy rice, pulses and other essential commodities at affordable rates.

The district administration observed that many middlemen and traders are fleecing the gullible people with imitative and inferior products, which are also sold at exorbitant rates. Currently, the district administration is using a few vehicles for the Giri Bazaars. The two vehicles provided by Mercedes-Benz would enable the officials to send essential commodities to faraway places as the vehicles can move easily on ghat roads.