Student, octogenarian win top panchayat post

Saarukala vows to redress drinking water woes, Perumathal promises amenities

A postgraduate college girl and an octogenarian are among those who have been elected panchayat presidents in the rural local bodies polls held in nine newly carved-out districts.

When Lakshmiyur and other hamlets falling under Venkadampatti village panchayat in Kadayam union were facing a drinking water crisis a couple of years ago, Ravi Subramanian, a farmer, stepped up to the plate and supplied drinking water in his tanker. Now, his 22-year-old daughter, R. Saarukala, a postgraduate engineering student, has become the president of Venkadampatti village panchayat.

“I have personally seen people’s agonising struggle for drinking water even though we are situated close to the Gadana irrigation system. I am determined to provide a lasting solution to this problem,” she said.