K. Kavitha

Early public life

In 2006, the Telangana movement got a fresh impetus with the resignation of its leader K Chandrashekhar Rao from the Union Cabinet to express his strong dissent with the Central Government for going back on the promise of Telangana State formation.

This inspired millions of people from Telangana, who left their careers to join the movement. Motivated by the commitment and sacrifices made by the movement’s leader and others who joined the movement, Kavitha plunged herself in the people’s movement.

To get a first hand knowledge of the problems affecting the people, Kavitha traveled the length and breadth of Telangana, touring the most remote villages. This journey led to a paradigm shift in Kavitha’s understanding of society in general and Telangana in particular.

The magnitude of poverty, lack of basic needs like power, potable and irrigated water, unemployment and related exploitation moved her.

Telangana Jagruthi

Despite the despair in Telangana, Kavitha observed, Telangana people had a great love and enthusiasm for indigenous art and culture across all sections. Kavitha believed that love for indigenous arts, could be a common thread to bind all sections of the society together. Bathukamma was one of the unique festivals, which is connected to the hearts of people of Telangana. By celebrating Bathukamma on a large scale and involving people from all sections of the society, she aimed to instill a sense of pride in their own culture.

Drawing Inspiration from the ongoing people’s movement for the statehood of Telangana and a strong desire to work for the welfare of the people, led Kavitha to the formation of Telangana Jagruthi in August 2006. However, the organization was formally registered in November 2008.The word Jagruthi means Awakening. Awakening the Telangana society to a renewed sense of pride & unity was the goal. As the name Jagruthi implies, Kavitha believed in bringing the women & youth of Telangana together by instilling a sense of pride to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Telangana Jagruthi played a key role in mobilizing the support of women and youth and also large sections of the society which acted as a force multiplier in the peaceful and non violent struggle for Telangana Statehood.

Telangana Jagruthi Skill Centers

K. Kavitha took an initiative to skill the youth of Telangana for making them ready for the gainful employment.^[2] Currently Telangana Jagruthi Skill Centers are imparting training to 8500 students across Telangana and assist them in placements.

Bathukamma

Kavithamma - as local people call her, is often identified with Bathukamma, a floral festival of Telangana. Kavitha worked for decade via Telangana Jagruthi and arranged organized celebrations of Bathukamma in Telangana and Globally. Now Bathukamma is celebrated in more than 30 countries.^[3]

Labour and Trade Unions

Kalvakuntla Kavitha is actively involved in labour and trade unions. Currently she serves in the following Labour and Trade Unions.

1. Honorary President - Telangana Boggu Ganula Karmika Sangham - TBGKS - Singareni Coal Mines.
2. Honorary President - Telangana Rashtra Vidyut Karmika Sangham - TRVKS - Electricity Employees Union.
3. Honorary President - Telangana Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Association - TAWHA - An organization of Anganwadi workers.

Bharat Scouts and Guides

K Kavitha has been elected the first state chief commissioner of Telangana chapter of Bharat Scouts and Guides (BS & G) Association. With her appointment as state chief commissioner, Kavitha became the youngest person to hold this position in the country. She is also the only second woman state chief commissioner in India. She formally took charge at the investiture ceremony held at the BSG state headquarters at Domalguda.^[4]

Parliamentary Committee

In the Parliament, Kavitha is a member of the Estimates Committee, the Standing Committee on Commerce and also on the Consultative Committee, Ministry of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Recently, Kavitha Kalvakuntla has been nominated to the Steering Committee of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians(CWP) India Region. Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians works for increasing the women representatives in Parliaments.

Parliamentary Delegation

Kavitha has traveled to many countries and officially she was a part of the Vice President’s Delegation to Cambodia and Laos as well as with Lok Sabha Speaker’s delegation to the European Parliament to Brussels, Belgium.^[5]