On a sunny late June afternoon, at the offices of World Council Of Hindus, in Ilford the writer caught up with Kumud Joshi, our newly elected councillor. in May 2022 elections, for Valentine ward making the above reassuring statement.
She was born in Nairobi, emigrated to the UK and brought up in Birmingham. Her dad Hari Kishan Datta was founder member of West Midlands Arya Samaj and the community connection continued following marriage in London with her in-laws. She is a qualified Computer Analyst having worked here and USA for investment banks and whilst bringing up her son who went on to attend grammar school, she took keen interest in politics, became a Labour member 30 years ago and held Ward Secretary position for the Goodmayes ward. She joined Labour Party through contributions to Unison.
Councillor Kumud Joshi with her husband Om
It is a great to see someone from our community representing us even with a busy working life as Business Analyst in the Adult Social Care at Harrow council. For her, to fulfil councillor will be easy as she works from home. She is very adept to listen and solve residents’ issues such as street litter, anti-social behaviour, knowing and objecting if required latest Planning applications. Being a professional, she uses modern IT techniques to create folders for each type and category of complaint for easy resolution. She is also a member of the Planning, People’s Directorate as well as Strategy and Planning committee.
She is forthright in her opinion about bettering the lot of Hindus living in Redbridge and their welfare. She assures me that everything in her power will be done to heighten the profile of our community through invites of Council and other political leaders to come, meet and listen to our member’s needs at the Ilford Vishwa Hindu Parishad Centre. In her words ‘I want to make this place rock’!
She also commented that other faiths seem lot more organised. She reckons that our community is not politically active, and everyone needs to join either of Conservative or Labour party and where possible, stand for election.
Adult Social Care is an acute need for our community, and she wants to invite representatives from the Council from Social Care, Enforcement, Housing, Volunteer Section and NHS.
Her message to the community: Get on electoral register, join any political party, become a member or elected official of the respective party.
We at Eshadoot will support Councillor Joshi in her tryst to make our area a better place to live and would extend our invite to the Redbridge Mayor to meet our community to ensure there is a good balance of services available to our community.
“Bharat Parmar@Eshadoot”
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Thank you so much it is real nice . Hope to give you lots of new items .
So your on the council, Kumud , great you could start by asking why certain schools in IG2 have policy of making kids wear school blazer or jumper inside classroom even when so hot. This is Torture !!!!!!!!!!!