Pimpri: They say it’s never late to chase your dreams and two women corporators from PCMC have shown exactly how to do that no matter what the circumstances are. Mamata Gaikwad and Kamal Gholap cleared their Class 10 examination with flying colours, that too after appearing for the examination following a long gap.
The efforts of both corporators - Standing Committee Chairperson Mamata Gaikwad and F Ward committee president Kamal Gholap - are being widely appreciated in the society.
Gholap shared that in her younger days, she had aspired to take higher education but could not pursue it. Due to the weak economic background of her parents, Gholap was married off early and then had to leave her education midway.
Talking about this, corporator Gholap said, “I do not have a political background. When municipal elections were announced, I got an opportunity from BJP to contest. After winning the elections, I decided to complete my 10th. Accordingly, I studied for two hours daily. It was a tough task managing studies, children and the responsibilities of a corporator. But with determination, I was successful in achieving my goal.”
Kamal Gholap, who was elected as BJP corporator from Ward number 13, cleared SSC examination with first class. Her success is being appreciated by the citizens of the area and the office bearers in PCMC and political leadership in the city.
The results of the examination, conducted in March, were announced on Friday. Gholap secured First Class with 72 per cent. She had appeared for the examination 21 years after leaving school.
Gholap, who is 39 years old, is a mother of two children.She is representing municipal ward no. 13 of Nigdi and is the Chairperson of the ‘F’ ward committee. She managed her studies while successfully carrying out several responsibilities of a corporator and managing her responsibilities of a home maker.
Speaking about her success in SSC examination, Mamata Gaikwad said, “It was my passion to pursue higher education from the beginning. However, as I had to look after my small children, I could not pursue further studies. Hence, this time, I decided to appear for Class X examination. I had filed application for the examination this year before my appointment as Standing Committee chairperson. When the examination was still going on, I was appointed as Standing Committee chairperson. I managed both studies and responsibilities of a chairperson simultaneously.”
Gaikwad got elected as a corporator from Vishalnagar area from Pimpri Chinchwad for the first time in 2017. Her husband, Vinayak Gaikwad, was a corporator from NCP during the last time. Gaikwad secured 55 per cent marks.