Shanthkumar Jettur is the name connected with an enterprising and progressive social worker whose commitment towards uplifting society has earned him respect, admiration, and a reputation among his people.
Born on October 25, 1966, in the small village of Jettur, Chincholli Taluk, in Karnataka, his journey from small-town boy to committed social worker and a BJP leader is one of unending resilience, coupled with an unshakeable belief in the power of self-reliance, or “Atma Nirbhar Bharat.”
For the past three decades, Shanthkumar Jettur has been actively involved in socio-political activities centred on empowering the marginalized sections of society. His strong belief in the philosophy of the RSS and his inclination towards the BJP has further motivated him in the task of integrating his people.
Political activism is not the only forte of Jettur’s work; rather, he contributes to fields such as education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, and building a self-reliant society.
Empowerment through Education and Healthcare
Education, according to Jettur, acts as the backbone of the process of nation-building. LS Educational Trust and Vee Bee Charitable Educational Trust have played a pivotal role in rendering quality education to less-privileged children throughout Karnataka under his leadership.
Through these trusts, Jettur has conducted many educational programs, including scholarship drives for meritorious students from economically weaker sections. His initiatives helped thousands of children get access to education, thereby enabling them to come out of the poverty trap.
Another such domain in which Jettur’s impact has been immense is healthcare. Because he believes in the fact that a nation can’t be built without good health, he has been actively involved in building robust infrastructure for healthcare facilities in the rural areas. In the pandemic of COVID-19, when many Indian states were juggling with a myriad of problems, Jettur’s leadership shined brightly by leading one of the most successful vaccination drives in the state. The regular check-up camps being held under his foundation are imperative in delivering medical care to the neglected classes of society.
The invaluable service he rendered during the pandemic won him the prestigious “Best COVID Warrior” award, and this distinction humbles him but also instigates his zeal to serve even more.
Added to this, hundreds of food packets were distributed among the pandemic-affected people by Jettur and his family members tirelessly. Further, he showed interest in providing masks, sanitizers, and other equipment to various states in order to help them at the time of crisis.
Women’s Empowerment and Social Welfare
Women’s empowerment is very close to Jettur’s heart, and this has come out very clearly in his work with NGOs and trusts that are oriented towards making women self-dependent. With a variety of initiatives, he has enabled women from the marginalized sections of society to pick up skills and access employment opportunities so as to live a life of dignity and self-respect. His belief that empowered women mean a prosperous nation has been reflected in innumerable workshops and training programs organized under the banner of his trusts.
Besides women’s empowerment, he has been a very strong crusader of the rights and welfare of the differently-abled. His work with NGOs working on causes for specially-abled children has provided such individuals with the wherewithal to integrate into society. Focusing on their education, healthcare, and overall well-being, Jettur is building an inclusive society where everybody gets an equal opportunity to succeed in life.
Commitment to Swachh Bharat and Social Integration
Perhaps the most prominent trait of Shanthkumar Jettur’s personality would be his commitment to social service. His contribution to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, India’s nationwide cleanliness drive, is more than active. By promoting cleanliness and hygiene in his locality, he not only brought betterment to the public health sphere alone but also brought a sense of civic responsibility into the hearts of the residents. For his work in this regard, the IS Educational Trust declared him the “Best Social Worker”.
Jettur’s work was not merely an upgrading of living standards but one of welding people into a unit of fellow feeling and integration of social and economic groups. His attempts at bridging gaps between different communities of caste, creed, or religion have made him a darling of his region. His way of doing social work is such that everybody benefits from his initiatives.
A Vision for a Self-Reliant India
What thus forms the great bulk of Shanthkumar Jettur’s work is the vision for an “Atma Nirbhar Bharat,” a self-reliant India wherein every citizen gets the chance to succeed and contribute to the nation’s growth. His belief in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” initiative has further energized his efforts to build a strong, self-reliant nation. It is through these acts of social service that Jettur is actualizing this vision by ensuring development gains elude no part of the country.
