spirited: Independent candidate S. Baskar (centre)arriving at the Coimbatore Corporation's South Zone office on Thursday.
-Photo: M. Periasamy
Of the candidates who have filed nominations for election to the Coimbatore Corporation's councillors' posts, S. Baskar stands out. The 32-year-old is different not because of his physical status but what he wants to achieve in the event of his getting elected.
“I want the differently abled to have a say, representation in the Corporation Council,” says the contestant for Ward 84.
“In case I get elected, I will ensure that the civic body takes care of the needs of the differently abled as well.
I want to be their voice in the local body.” He has filed his papers as an Independent and has the support of the Lok Satta, or Makkal Sakthi, the political wing of the Anti Corruption Front. He has studied till third standard, and hails from a family of goldsmiths from Kembatty Colony.
Surya Nagappan of Caliber, an organisation for the differently abled, says the democratic exercise of conducting election is incomplete without the participation of various sections of the society.
A person with disability himself, Mr. Nagappan says having a differently abled in an elected body makes a very big difference. “A challenged person understands our needs better.
And, having one of our ilk eliminates the need for us to depend on others.” He also says this is first step in demanding reservation for differently abled in elected bodies, including the Assembly. “If members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and women can have representation in local bodies, why cannot we? We are as deprived as they are,” is his argument.
Mr. Baskar says students of social work, volunteers, members of Lok Satta and differently abled persons have promised to join his campaign, which will be door-to door.
S. Baskar files papers to run for Coimbatore Corporation Councillor
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