Anantapur, May 19, 2025 — What began as a local outcry led by Ananthapuram’s Anil Kumar has transformed into a full-blown digital movement. The #SaveRDT campaign — launched three weeks ago to demand the reinstatement of the Rural Development Trust’s (RDT) FCRA license — has now reached over 3.75 million people online and garnered thousands of petition signatures in support.
In a major boost to the campaign’s momentum, renowned singer Mangli, herself a former RDT-sponsored child, joined the cause with a live concert in Anantapur on May 18. Her emotional speech struck a chord across social media, rapidly amplifying the campaign’s visibility.
“I owe everything to RDT — from my classical music training to the career I’ve built working with legends like A.R. Rahman and Ilaiyaraaja,” Mangli said from the stage. “Without their support, none of this would’ve been possible. They gave me the tools, the platform, and the belief.”
Mangli’s appearance followed an open appeal by Anil Kumar during a hunger strike earlier this month, where he questioned why individuals who had benefited from RDT’s decades of service remained silent. “I’m deeply thankful to Mangli for coming forward,” Anil said. “Voices like hers are vital to the movement. This isn’t just about paperwork — it’s about people’s lives. RDT has transformed lakhs of lives in Anantapur, and now it’s time for those lives to speak back.”
The Save RDT campaign, driven through Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), has sparked a wave of digital activism. Posts showcasing RDT’s impact on rural healthcare, HIV care, disability support, women’s empowerment, and education have flooded timelines. The online petition hosted through change.org has attracted thousands of signatures, with daily growth as stories like Mangli’s go viral.
Supporters are demanding urgent intervention from the Government of India to renew RDT’s FCRA license, without which critical foreign funding is blocked — threatening essential services across 3,900 villages and over 4.5 lakh families.
Mangli closed her concert with a heartfelt message: “RDT gave me music, but more importantly, they gave me a life. We cannot let that light go out for others.”
With celebrities joining in, and social media continuing to amplify the cause, the Save RDT campaign is no longer a whisper — it’s a roar.
