Anantapur, May 19, 2025 — In a major boost to the ongoing Save RDT campaign, celebrated folk and playback singer Mangli, who herself is a former beneficiary of the Rural Development Trust (RDT), joined the movement with a powerful live concert in Anantapur on May 18. The event marked an emotional turning point for the campaign initiated three weeks ago by Ananthapuram Anil Kumar, who has been leading the charge to protect RDT’s future amid its ongoing FCRA licensing crisis.
Speaking at the concert, Mangli made a heartfelt appeal to the public to support RDT in its hour of need. “Everything I am today is because of RDT,” she declared. “They gave me classical music training when I had nothing. Without that foundation, I would have never reached where I am — singing for legends like A.R. Rahman and Ilaiyaraaja.”
Mangli went on to highlight how RDT’s impact stretches far beyond her own story. “They have changed the lives of thousands like me. Their work in health, HIV care, child development, education, and support for the differently-abled has been life-changing, especially for the poorest of the poor in Anantapur district.”
The singer’s support comes just weeks after Anil Kumar publicly called on former beneficiaries like Mangli to speak out. During a hunger strike in Anantapur, he had questioned why those who had directly benefited from RDT’s services had remained silent. Anil expressed deep gratitude following Mangli’s participation, saying, “Her story is a beacon. It’s time for every person touched by RDT to raise their voice. This campaign needs to go national — and only stories like hers can make that happen.”
The Save RDT campaign was launched to pressure the Government of India to reinstate RDT’s FCRA license, which is critical for the flow of foreign donations that sustain its wide-ranging humanitarian work. The non-renewal of this license threatens to halt essential services that have supported over 4.5 lakh families across 3,900 villages for more than five decades.
As Mangli’s voice echoed through the crowd of thousands gathered in Anantapur, the message was clear: RDT is not just an organization — it is the heartbeat of Anantapuram. And that heartbeat must not be silenced.
