Madakkathara: Thrissur's Madakkathara panchayat president Indira Mohanan, in her continuous and unfaltering service to the public has now realised that she has achieved a milestone. Besides the fact that she has completed 25 glorious years as an elected representative, she is the only woman to have won five consecutive elections and has adorned the posts of president, vice president and block panchayat president.

Indira started her career as a social worker by teaching 98 children at her house, free of cost, before an Anganwadi was started in Vilvattam panchayat in the end of 1980s. She then worked in a quarry for six years. In 2000, Indira was working as a domestic help when she was offered a seat by the CPM to contest the Madakkathara panchayat elections from Kadamkuzhi seat.

She won the seat and became a member of the opposition as Congress had captured the panchayat in that election. Meanwhile, in 2005, Indira contested from Madakkathara division and won by an incredible margin of 3370 votes to become the Ollookkara block panchayat president.

Indira became the president of the permanent committee of development although the panchayat was ruled by Congress after the election in 2010. In 2015, she won from 400 KV substation ward and was appointed as the panchayat vice president. In an impressive feat, Indira won for the fifth consecutive time to become the panchayat president. She is credited for implementing the Hariyali watershed project irrespective of political affiliations.

Indira also took up the initiative to establish the office of the agricultural assistant in Ollookkara. Besides, countless lift irrigation projects too were implemented by her. Building for differently-abled people, financial aid of Rs 4000 for dialysis patients and the Vidyadhanam project for the women who had to give up education are some of popular projects proposed and implemented by Indira.
Mohan who is an MGNREG program worker is Indira’s husband. Reneesh, a lorry driver and Aneesh, who works as a driver in a private bus, are her two children.