With multiple degrees in his kitty, agriculture is his primary occupation. And now with the dream to make democracy at the village-level vibrant and make villages self-reliant, he has plunged into the fray for the gram panchayat elections.
Meet Santhosh Kumar of Nallandahalli in Masti hobli of Malur taluk in Kolar district. Armed with MA, B.Ed., and MSW, he is contesting for a seat in Rajenahalli gram panchayat. His move has aroused the curiosity of the locals as most contestants at the village-level elections are not very well-educated.
He is in the fray from seat no. 2 that comprises Nallandahalli, M. Upparahalli, Turalatti and Adhikarahatti villages.
Mr. Kumar worked for some time as a guest faculty in Government Pre-University College in Doddanayakanahalli and was also associated with the Karnataka High School Quality Assessment Cell.
“Working towards realising Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of making villages self-reliant prompted me to contest the rural local body elections”, Mr. Kumar told The Hindu on Thursday.
Participation of educated youths in the political process will certainly help make a difference, the 35-year-old opines. Worried over improper functioning of gram sabhas and ward meetings, which are considered the Parliament of rural India, Mr. Kumar wants to infuse life into them.
Fight against corruption, tapping solar power and rain-water harvesting are on his agenda.
