A postgraduate in Applied Psychology, Maya has extensively served in the voluntary sector and is the director of a Rs 120-crore turnover company.
Her party is also a relatively young player in Indian politics and she believes in placing people in focus rather than ideologies. Formed in 1984, this is the first time the Humanist Party is fielding candidates for Parliamentary elections.
Speaking to News Today, Maya shared her ideas and opinions.
Q: What made you enter politics?
A: I have come across humans suffering when I was working with various NGOs. In that capacity, I was only able to deal with minor issues. But only being a part of the government the larger issues can be dealt with.
Q: How many votes do you expect to get?
A: I am not seeing people just as votes. I see them as human beings. I am not here to create votebanks. If some people join us as a result of this election campaign I would be happy.
Q: What is going to be your campaigning strategy?
A: We don’t have financial or muscle power. My party volunteers and I are going to meet people individually and explain our stand. If somebody spends huge money for the campaigning, it is only to get that back after winning.
Q: Your electoral promises?
A : I am not going to make false promises. I know my limitations. Our party believes in participatory democracy. So I will seek people’s referendum on every major issue. My decisions will only be based on their referendum.
Q: As a Parliamentarian, what will be your major focus?
A: Most of the legislation we have today were framed by the British. We have to change them. Secondly, if the Indian government reduces its defence budget even by a small per cent, millions of children can be provided proper education and food. Our security depends on our relationship with our neighbours rather than in arms that we have.
To know more about the party and Maya, visit: mayaramachandran.in and humanist party.org. She can be contacted at maya_r10@yahoo.com and maya.r@genlite.in. Her electoral symbol is a ‘ceiling fan’.
