From SHG leader to Panchayat president

ERODE: She is perhaps the lone leader of a Self Help Group (SHG) to be elected as panchayat president in the district in the recent polls. Interestingly, P Vallideivanai carved a place for herself without the backing of any political party. She was pitted against nine male candidates at Basuvapatti panchayat in Chennimalai block and won with a vote margin of 81. Of the total 2,457 votes polled, she secured 2,106. In the previous elections, she lost with a margin of just 19 votes. At that time, 10 men were in the fray. Vallideivanai studied up to Class VIII and works as the Ookkunar (motivator) of the Malligai SHG comprising 12 members. She had served as secretary of the SHG federation of the panchayat, which has over 50 SHGs. Now she is the federation treasurer.“As an SHG member, I used to frequent 15 hamlets in the panchayat helping SHG members get ration cards, various certificates and bank loans. That way I was able to build a good rapport with the resident,” Vallideivanai told Express. In fact, a group of women SHG members even canvassed for votes on her behalf for five days. “Though the panchayat is getting Cauvery water under a combined water supply scheme, still many areas face water shortage. My first task is to augment water supply,” she stated.Her husband Palanivel had served as temporary fitter in the Chennimalai block office before his death in 2000. Since then, she has been making a living as a floor mat weaver. Her son Gowrishankar is a van driver and daughter Shobana a nurse at a private hospital.