Pushing 77 now, Kerala’s first ever woman panchayat president cannot recall why her political career has come to an abrupt end, the way it did. ‘‘I don’t remember the reasons, and it was not a thoroughly thought-out decision. But I am happy the way things are turning out now with more women taking a lead role in local governance,’’ says Annamma Jacob of Onnukal in Ernakulam’s Kavalangadu panchayat.
Ms. Jacob was its president for a consecutive 12 years. She was first nominated to the Kavalangadu panchayat committee in 1963 and then became its vice president during 1963-68. In 1968, she beat veteran politician Kuruvila Mathew of the CPI to become president, continuing for about 11 more years in that capacity. In 1979, she contested as an independent candidate and then quit active politics to take care of the family, after completing the full term of five years.
‘‘My youngest son, Benny Jacob, was only 90 days old when I took up the job. It was my father-in-law, Ittar Joseph, who first suggested that I should join the panchayat council. As the family head, his decision was endorsed by all in the family, including my husband M.J. Jacob,’’ she recalls.
Some of the major projects established during her term include an LP school at Manimarutham Chal under the ownership of the Kavalangad panchayat, a public health centre at Neriamangalam, the Villanchira potable water project, introduction of power supply at Namboorikkooppu, among others.
‘‘I still remember walking through the forest trails for face-to-face interaction with the people in all parts of the 24 sq.km. under the panchayat. I was paid just Rs.20 every month then,’’ she said. Those days, local bodies received no separate funds directly from the State government and had to make do from allocations to each of the districts.
Even after over two decades of public life, Ms. Jacob could never imagine becoming active in party politics. Mainly because she despised party politics. ‘‘By the time I quit, the election of local bodies members had become a petty political affair. That was the worst thing that could happen,’’ she said.
