Marimuthu learns the ropes

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">bangalore: when you tell sagaayapuram corporator maarimuthu that her voice is loud and clear today, unlike during the pre-election days, she has a defence. ``things work in the bcc only if you shout and bang benches. can one be the same at home and on the streets?'''' how is life for maarimuthu after winning the bcc elections by a huge margin? it''s serious ward development work, she quips.``i consider people who did not vote for me as my voters too and work for them without discrimination.'''' maarimuthu, who had faced adverse publicity in the light of hooch tragedies, says in an interview to the sunday times of india: ``to handle the personal problems and family fights of people who come to me is the biggest challenge.'''' excerpts: <span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">have things changed after you won the elections?</span> i am more than refined today. i do not drink, party or, for that matter, even get a cup of tea from a restaurant. i cook and share things with my eight children, their spouses and my eight grandchildren. <span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">have you got accustomed to the work culture in the bcc?</span> i am upset over the transfer of bcc commissioner ashok dalwai. for me, as a corporator, to get used to the new commissioner is like a newly married girl getting accustomed to her mother-in-law. in three months, the daughter-in-law will, however, start dictating terms. <span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">who are the corporators you look upon for guidance and inspiration?</span> the ideal corporator is mayor k. chandrashekar. everybody talks about his ward being a model but i am yet to see it. maybe if i get elected three times like him, i can follow suit. i have only heard him saying `please'' and `sit down'', i am yet to have any serious chat with him. <span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">how far have you progressed with the ward works?</span> work has started in full earnest in my ward although it will take a fortnight more for the government to approve the bcc budget. i have started encouraging funds through private participation and built a government school, toilets, public taps and borewells so far. <span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">what is the response from the residents?</span> i do not have time even to meet as people throng my house from 6 a.m. to 12 noon. my husband adimoolan and i visit different areas of the ward to study problems every day. the bcc budget has allocated rs 40 lakh to sagaayapuram and i assure that every paisa from it will be devoted to development work. </div> </div>