Why this JD(S) MLA's quiet padayathra should be lesson for others

YSV Datta criss-crosses his constituency, Kadur covering 1,000 km on foot Through Padayathra, he has been speaking to people in an attempt to know their problems Popularly called as 'Dattanna', he is the first-time legislator from JD(S)

He is unlike other legislators in the State. When other legislators are busy attacking each other in an attempt to be in the "news" ahead of next year's elections, YSV Datta, the JD(S) MLA from Kadur has walked the 1,000-km in his constituency to understand the people's problems.

Datta, the first-time legislator from Kadur in Chikmagaluru district, has been marching his constituency since June 4. And wherever he went, people have come in hordes to pour their grievances to their leader. "This is the most memorable moment in my life. I'm fortunate that I had the opportunity to interact with so many people. They wait for me even late at night and offer me food and a place to sleep," reports The Hindu quoting Datta, who is popularly called as Dattanna.

The taluk has been witnessing acute drinking water crisis this year. With most of the borewells going dry and rain playing truant too, fields look barren. Earlier, there have been reports that the farmers were finding it difficult to feed their livestock as the taluk had no fodder centres, as promised by the state government.

While MLA Datta had been attending to the people's problems, there have been mixed response to his effort. According to The Hindu, at some places, when some tried to share their personal problems but Datta reportedly refused to listen to such problems and people were upset with that. It is reported that MLA Datta sometimes covered over 25 to 30 km a day and had breakfast, lunch and dinner with the villagers.

"They share their problems with me and sometimes find faults too. At times, I have admitted to my mistakes related to allocation of funds or delay in addressing problems," reports The Hindu quoting Datta. However, Datta defines his attempt as "an exercise involving interaction as well as introspection."

Besides, he reportedly stated that since Padayathra was an effective initiative by Mahatma Gandhi to reach out to people, he decided to experiment with that.