Lok Sabha polls 2014: Social activist Kantha Singh contesting as Independent

JAMSHEDPUR (JHARKHAND): Award winning social activist, Upender Karmakar alias Kantha Singh, will contest from Jamshedpur Lok Sabha constituency as an Independent candidate.

A car mechanic for 26 years, Kantha had converted his garage at Ghatsila into an orphanage for children in 2003 after he adopted an orphan. He had been running the orphanage from donations from the people.

Singh said the money he received with Presidential award in 2009 and the Real Hero Award the next year helped him to set up a school in the orphanage.

Now, his orphanage cum school has 65 children including girls.

Asked why he decided to contest the polls, Singh said he was upset with the approach of the successive governments, who failed to deliver on all fronts including education and health sector.

A resident of naxal-affected Dampara Balam in Ghatsila sub-division, Kantha said neither any development work had taken place in rural pockets of the sub-division nor any politician had the willpower to do it.

He said his focus would be on education, health and irrigation, if elected.

"I am a poor man with no money to spend for the election. But I am still contesting because of the support extended by the people," he said.

Kantha, who is contesting polls for the first time, said the Rs 25,000 nomination fee was contributed by his well-wishers.

He assured them that he would never let them down.