From migration issues to potholes, this Malayali councillor in UK has his hands full

A few months after Nikhil Sherine Thampi, a resident of Kowdiar got elected as the second Malayali Conservative party councillor in the UK representing Old Coulsdon ward in 2022, he received a frantic call from a woman. She was calling from East Ham. She had moved to the UK from Thiruvananthapuram on a student visa and husband and two kids were with her as dependents. They were staying in a small room infested with rats after paying a huge amount as rent. When she complained, the agent threatened to evict them. They had given all they had and they had nowhere to go. Thampi soon got in touch with the authorities concerned and action was taken against the illegal agents. It was found that the agent was operating 14 such houses without any license. All of them were shut down.

"Illegal agents would take money from migrants and put them up in houses flouting these norms, putting them through all sorts of misery," says Thampi, who is now in the city on holiday.

Thampi went to the UK as a student to do a master's in advanced software engineering in 2010, started participating in local charity activities and interacting with residents' associations. After becoming a British Citizen in 2020, he started associating with Conservative Party activities. His selection as candidate took four rounds of interviews and had to defeat nine others in reverse voting.

Being a first-time councillor and the only migrant councillor of the Conservative Party in Croydon council has been challenging and exciting for Thampi.

"You get the opportunity to listen to residents' concerns via email, phone and face to face. They come with queries ranging from potholes, fly tipping, anti-social behaviour, parking issues, inappropriate planning applications etc. I really enjoy being a councillor and listening to local people and making effective positive decisions that touch the lives of people around every day," he says.

Thampi says that migration is a major issue. "There are many things students need to be aware of while planning to go to the UK. You must know the current situation and cost of living in the UK. Pick courses that could secure a job for you and don't bring dependents, especially kids, until you know the actual situation," he points out.

Thampi is married to Nivea Gita Manohar who is also from Kowdiar Trivandrum.