Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 31: Normally, candidates supported by the Congress used to win gram panchayat (GP) election in Pavoor gram panchayat near here. However, for the first time in the history of the panchayat, a lady candidate supported by the BJP has won a seat. The winning candidate is Mamata, who had spent her childhood in a tent here in the past, before she went on to complete her graduation in medical BSc.

Mamata is a native of Udupi. Her father Krishnappa, and mother Prema, were migrant labourers who roamed around looking for work. The family pitched a tent where it lived. After Krishnappa went missing in 1995 all of a sudden, the family of mother and three children used to stay by the roadside, toilet, cattle shed etc. Mamata's brother Shiva, was suffering from cancer. Her other brother Bhoja and Mamata, were admitted into the Malarpadavu school by Madhu, a teacher who took interest in educating the deprived people.

Prema worked in quarry besides working as domestic help. In 2006, Mamata was admitted into Morarji Desai school Machchina and later, in Morarji Desai College Deralakatte where Mamata passed with high marks. She completed lab technician diploma though Colaco Institute Mangaluru. With the help of donors, she fulfilled her dream of having higher education by staying in Anepalya slum in Bengaluru and passed medical BSc degree through the government medical college in 2020 with distinction.

Mamata says that rural people have stayed poor because of unequal distribution of wealth due to social and political systems. She says she has come back to village to work for the upliftment of rural people and that she has got political support now to pursue her goal.