Short in stature, tall in deeds

MYSORE: Her disability and short stature had forced her to avoid mingling with society. Now, 3.5 ft tall Pavithra from Malvalli village has grown taller, with her vision and commitment to improve her village and panchayat.Pavithra, a BCom student, has turned out to be a role model for villagers as she contested Gram Panchayat election on General (woman) seat in Belathur village in Malavalli taluk. As the post was reserved for general woman, luck favoured her to head the Ethambadi GP with 19 members from Hosapura, Belthur, Ethambadi and Ullahalli villages.With 15 months left in office, she plans to ensure toilets for every household, clean drinking water, health cards and other benefits for the poor. This short-statured girl from a small panchayat, visited Delhi looking for schemes to build toilets for all, compound walls for schools and improve basic facilities in and around her village. Pavithra also flew to Delhi as resource person for the NREGS organised by the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. She managed to take members into confidence, and got job cards for 1,250 employees. Works worth Rs 40 lakh have been taken up under NREGS scheme to construct compound walls to schools, desiltation of canals etc.She ensured that needy students get loans to pursue higher and technical education and every child goes to school and avails benefits.