Man on a Mission Quits 40k Salary Job to bring Awareness on LS Election Riding his Bike
Mangaluru: After completing 21 districts in Karnataka State, a 43-year-old man riding his motorcycle made a pit stop in Mangaluru/DK, being his 22 district as part of his journey in bringing awareness on the importance of voting in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Meet Basavaraj S Kallusakkare, chief convenor of Samartha Kannadigaru, a Bengaluru-based organisation, who started travelling from Bengaluru, reached DK on Friday, 22 March 2019.
Kallusakkare said that he has toured 21 districts so far and traveled about 4,000 plus km. He is planning to cover 10 more districts by the end of the month before heading back to Bengaluru. “I started my journey from Bengaluru on February 24. I am visiting district and taluk headquarters and villages to appeal to people to exercise their franchise without fail,” he said. Riding his Bajaj Avenger Cruise 220, which is decked with slogans highlighting the importance of not only voting but donation of blood and protecting the environment also, Kallusakkare visits gram panchayat offices, government schools and colleges to appeal to voters so that 100 percent voter turnout is ensured.
“I have been receiving an overwhelming response not only in urban areas but in villages too. I will travel another 3,000 plus kms to cover the rest of the state,” he said. Kallusakkare said it is not the first time he is creating awareness on voting. He had done this during the last assembly elections too. In order to go on this mission to bring about awareness on Lok Sabha elections, Kallusakkare had quit his Rs 40,000 a month salary job. He says many people have criticized his decision on quitting his job and going on with this mission, which will never bring a change. “Whether my mission will bring changes in the society or not, but I want to be the first example for others in this direction,” said Basavaraj.