A woman who has been cleaning the offices of India's smallest autonomous local government panchayat for almost 10 years has won a seat in the Kolam district of the southern Indian state of Kerala.
Yesterday, 46-year-old A. Anandoli, a cleaning lady, took charge as the Block Panchayat President in Pathanapuram in Kollam district of South Kerala.
In the recently concluded local body elections in India, A. Anandoli was elected on the ticket of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was promoted to the post of Block President yesterday.
When he was taken to the Block President's seat, he could not control his emotions and with uncontrollable tears in his eyes, he said that only my party can do such things, I will really be indebted to him.
"I was a little nervous but my party leaders and well-wishers encouraged me to take on a new responsibility." I will do my best to make the block panchayat a role model.
"Now my responsibility is heavy, I will work hard to improve the lives of all the people in my block,"
In the same office in 2011, he started working part-time as a sweeper on a meager salary of Rs.
Earlier, Arya Rajendran, a 21-year-old student of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, had the honor of becoming the youngest mayor in the country's history.
Remember that Panchayat or Gram Panchayat is the smallest autonomous local government in India. According to 2002 data, there are about 26,500-gram panchayats in India.
The elected members of the Gram Panchayat elect a President or Sarpanch and a Vice President or Deputy Sarpanch from among themselves for a term of five years.
The Sarpanch presides over the joint meeting of the Gram Panchayat and oversees its functioning. He implements village development plans.
