From auto rickshaw driver to panchayat president

It's an inspiring story of a woman's strength, conviction and her political success. A woman auto rickshaw driver has been elected the panchayat president in Neendoor a small town of Kerala. Thirty one-year-old Sandya Banerjee, an auto rickshaw driver by profession is now climbing the political ladder as she has recently been elected the panchayat president of Neendoor in Kottayam district."I worked here as an auto driver for the past three years. I was able to build contacts thanks to this job. And later I decided to contest elections and I won," says Sandya.


Sandya comes from a below poverty line family, but with the help of a social service organisation, Kottayam Social Society, she managed to take a loan and buy an auto rickshaw.




And for the last three years she has been driving the auto rickshaw has been her source of income.




Looking at her success and conviction as an auto driver, she was encouraged by her family to contest the panchayat elections and it was with her family's support that she won the panchayat polls after having secured a Congress ticket.




"It is a good that women are being elected. Since she comes from a poor family, she will understand the needs of common people better," says panchayat Secretary Joy Mathew.




Sandya's unique journey is one of determination and strength, her journey from being an auto rickshaw driver to becoming a panchayat president certainly sets an example for many to follow