'చన్నగంటమ్మ' Born on the 17th November 1913, in a Zamindari Andhra family in WestGodavari of Telaga community. she is a prominent female social worker in India. She was brought up in a family background which was not only conducive for community service orientation, but also a positive factor for the promotion of many different types of community betterment activities. Her father late Rao Bahadur Kalli Chitiiabbayi Naidu, was a social reformer and was deeply interested in the promotion of education, especially of girls. By conviction he was a crusader against casteism and untouchability and worked for the uplift of downtrodden and backward communities.
Her husband the lateMr.AVV Krishna Rao was a well accomplished and academically brilliant scientist and social reformer.After graduating with a first class first in the Master of Arts Degree in Physics from Madras University, Mrs.Krishnarao has dedicated herself to social service. Her services that spanned over six decades in the field of uplifting the unfortunate women and children have rightly earned the appreciation of oneand all.Recognising herinvaluable service she was nominated as Chairman of the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) in 1954, a position that further helped her translate her vision for the country into reality. She traveled extensively through rural India and granted aid liberally to women and children schemesand welfare projects. Her achievements as Chairman of the CSWB make a noteworthy list.The Government of Tamil Nadu has done well to choose her as Honorary Principal of the Industrial Training Center for women. She was a member of Regional Film Censor Board. She was trustee in Kesari Educational Trust and President Children’s Garden School Society. She was a Member Executive Committee of Vigilance Home and Abhaya Nilayam.She is the recipient of a number of awards including the Jamnalal Bajaj award and the Indira Ganndhi National Unity award for outstanding social work.
Mrs.ACKrishna Rao was a colleague of Late Padma Vibhushan Dr.Durgabai Deshmukh for 24 years Along with Smt.Durgabai Deshmukh she has founded Andhra Mahila Sabha which started with adult education classes and condensed courses for women. This institution has now grown into a huge complex having wide spectrum of activities running two hospitals two colleges and three high schools in Chennai and Hyderabad . This serves as a model institution for the welfare of women & children.
In the year 1949 she founded Stree Seva Mandir as the name suggests serving and providing shelter to the destitute women and their children. She aims at total rehabilitation of a child or woman in distress.
