Meet Padma Shri S Damodaran: The Tiruchirappalli candidate who sells vegetables to campaign for Lok Sabha polls
2024 Lok Sabha polls, a Padma Shri recipient is making waves in the Tiruchirappalli Lok Sabha constituency. S Damodaran, 62, an independent candidate running under the gas stove symbol, is campaigning by interacting with vegetable vendors, making flower garlands and selling vegetables.
Damodaran, who hails from Tiruchirappalli, have been working in the sanitation centre as Associate Service volunteer for more than 40 years.
He started his career at the age of 21. He got the Padma Shree award from then President of India Ram Nath Kovind for his work in the sanitation sector.
Damodaran said he had served during the tenure of nine prime ministers throughout his lifetime. «I started my social service at the age of 21, when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India. I have come across nine prime ministers in my lifetime. I worked under all centrally sponsored rural sanitation programmes and made every village a role model village,» he said.
On his vision for Tiruchirappalli, Damodaran said, «We need to work to make Trichy a clean and green city. People are demanding a Ring Road for the city as it is centrally located and many buses and transport vehicles are crossing Trichy...We are also working on flyovers at important areas in Trichy City.»
The Padma Shri recognition bestowed upon Damodaran by the central government acknowledges his significant contributions to social work, particularly in promoting sanitation in villages and slums across South India. His unwavering dedication to public service has earned him
