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Dansari Anasuya Seethakka

2025 Fellow

Minister of Women and Child Welfare of Telangana

Dansari Anasuya Seethakka
India

Dansari Anasuya, known as Seethakka, is an Adivasi Gutti Koya tribal leader and three-time member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Mulug (ST-reserved). Currently, she is serving as Telangana’s Minister for Panchayati Raj & Rural Development, Rural Water Supply, and Women and Child Welfare. Seethakka is a daughter of the tribal lands, a fighter for justice, and a servant of the people. Born in the remote village of Nellipaka, her journey from the forests of Adilabad to the legislative assembly is a testament to the power of resilience and hope.

Growing up in poverty, Seethakka witnessed the struggles of her community firsthand. This pain led her to activism, and later, to politics not for power, but for change. With a PhD from Osmania University, on “Tribal Rights and Livelihood,” she has dedicated her life to ensuring that no tribal child suffers as she did.

As an MLA from Mulugu, she walks tough paths literally and figuratively to bring education, healthcare, and dignity to her people. From building schools to fighting for land rights, her mission is clear: “empowerment through opportunity.” Elected MLA in 2009 (TDP), 2018, and 2023 (Congress), her leadership shines in grassroots engagement. During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, she trekked through forests to deliver essentials to 400 tribal villages, earning the title “Iron Lady of Telangana.” As General Secretary of the All India Mahila Congress (2018) and Chhattisgarh Mahila Congress in-charge (2019), she empowered women politically. Seethakka’s ministerial initiatives include innovative projects like Mulugu’s container hospital and advocating for tribal welfare funding.

Seethakka believes in leading by example. Whether it’s sleeping in a hut during village visits or standing firm against injustice, her strength comes from her people. Her message is simple: “No dream is too big, no hurdle too high. Together, we rise.”