Amidst political stalwarts in fray in the coming lok Sabha elections a car mechanic turned social worker is grabbing headlines by contesting from Jamshedpur lok Sabha constituency as an Independent candidate.
The award winning social activist, Upender Karmakar alias Kantha Singh, 51, is known for converting his garage at Ghatshila into an orphanage for children in 2003 after he adopted an orphan. He had been running the orphanage from donations from the people and other social organisations.
Speaking to The Pioneer, from Ghatshila, where he was addressing a meeting of his supporters, Singh said that his idea to contest the elections is to spread a message in the society about the plight of poor people and grab attention of the policy makers. He said that it was his supporters who motivated him to try his luck in the election.
He further added, “I know I can’t spend money on my campaign like other political candidates. But yes I am relying on door-to-door campaign. I am getting support from all sections of society and I am hopeful to garner votes”.
Singh said the plight of poor and educated youths are matter of great concern. Due to lack of opportunities in the rural belt of Jamshedpur constituency, youths are forced to migrate. If he is elected as MP his priority will be to create greater opportunities for the youths and spread education amongst the tribals.
Singh who hails from naxal-affected Dampara Balam in Ghatsila sub-division, said that repeated Governments in the State and in the Centre have failed to work as per the expectations of the people. This was the prime reason why he did not approach any political party and decided to contest as an independent candidate.
He went on to add that rural pockets of Ghatshila sub-division are the worst hit areas where there is lack of education, health and irrigation facilities. Kantha who reportedly used to beg just to feed these orphan children said that `25,000 required for the nomination was also arranged by his supporters. He has begged from people to feed the orphans. He now owns two orphanges, one of which is his own house in Dampara village of East Singhbhum district.
His social work helped him meet then President Pratibha Patil in 2009 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Patil had given him a cheque of `50,000. Singh also received the CNN-IBN Real Heroes Award in 2010. “Winning and loosing matter little for me. I just want to mobilise voters and people and help them realise the power of common man,” said Singh.