Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

State literacy workers script a success story

M. Harish Govind

170 `preraks' of State Literacy Mission elected to local bodies

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In what may be cases of committed continuing literacy work translating into popular votes, 170 `preraks' (motivators) of the State Literacy Mission have been elected to the three-tier panchayat bodies in the local-body polls.

As many as 232 `preraks' had entered the hustings from 13 districts, the exception being Kasaragod. There are those who have been elected as district panchayat members or block panchayat presidents.

"These victories prove that the continuing literacy programme has found a place in the hearts of people," says mission director Konni Gopakumar.

The `preraks' were elected to the governing committees of Idukki, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram district panchayats.

Highest number in Kollam

It was in Kollam district that the highest number of `preraks' contested and got elected — 34 contestants and 33 winners. One was elected to the district, four to the block, four to the municipalities and 24 to the gram panchayats. Significantly, 28 winners are women. In Thiruvananthapuram district, 22 of the 27 `preraks' who contested won.

Nineteen were elected to the grama panchayats and one to the Nedumangad municipality. One `prerak,' Annie Asokan, from Kazhakuttam, became block panchayat president. Laly John became president of Amboori Grama Panchayat.

Eighteen of the 23 contestants tasted victory in Alappuzha district. The presidents of three panchayats in the district — Panavally, Karuvatta and Punnapra South — are `preraks.'

Literacy workers became people's representatives in Cherthala municipality and Harippad and Kanjikuzhy block panchayats. In Kottayam district, T.K. Suresh Kumar was elected to Vazhoor and A.K. Mini to Vellavoor grama panchayats.

Five of the 13 `preraks' who contested in Idukki came out victorious. Shajini Chandran made it to the district panchayat.

Eight `preraks' tasted victory in Kozhikode district — two to the block panchayat and six to gram panchayats.

Sixteen were in the fray in the district. Onchiyam Grama Panchayat President C.H. Prajitha was a `prerak' in the Onchiyam continuing education centre.

Out of three contestants in Wayanad, two won. They were elected to Sultanbathery and Vythiri gram panchayats.

Sultanbathery panchayat president Sally Poulose was a `prerak.' In Kasaragod, where `preraks' did not contest, three beneficiaries of the adult literacy programme got elected.

The Mission is organising district-level meetings to felicitate the winners, Mr. Gopakumar said.

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