KARSTEN MIRANDA
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MAJORDA: When Anthea Pereira was elected unopposed as the Sarpanch of Majorda-Utorda-Calata, she wasn’t just stepping into a political role – she was continuing a remarkable family legacy of public service that stretches back decades. At just 26, she follows in the footsteps of her grandmother, Lilia Martins Pereira, who made history as Goa’s first female Sarpanch.
“My grandmother was the first lady Sarpanch in the State from 1968 to 1973,” Anthea recalls. Her grandmother’s pioneering achievement was later recognised by the former Defence Minister and ex-Chief Minister, late Manohar Parrikar, during the Panchayati Raj Golden Jubilee Celebrations.
Anthea herself made history by becoming possibly Goa’s youngest woman Sarpanch and also the youngest Sarpanch of her village.
Incidentally, the family’s commitment to serving others doesn’t end with her grandmother. Anthea’s father, Aleixo Arnolfo Pereira, was also a Panch and an active environment protection activist.
Reflecting on her motivation to contest the panchayat elections, Anthea said “It was my grandmother’s legacy and my parents’ encouragement that truly gave me the confidence and strength to take this step. My grandmother’s dedication to social causes and her ability to make a difference in people’s lives left a lasting impact on me. I too felt a desire to bring about a meaningful change in my village. I wanted to be a voice for those unheard.”
While she acknowledges the challenges of stepping into such a role, especially as a young woman, she said “Rather than seeing it as a challenge, I took it up as an opportunity to inspire other young women and youth.”
Her message to the youth is: “Start by listening to the aspirations of the people. Don’t underestimate the power you hold to make a difference. Our voices and ideas are crucial in shaping the future. It’s about serving the people, being their voice, and creating solutions that truly work. I believe that youth have an incredible potential to drive change at the grassroots level.”
She aims to address the specific needs of Majorda-Utorda-Calata with a multifaceted approach that emphasizes environmental protection, waste management and cleanliness. Youth engagement is another key focus, alongside creating infrastructure like parking facilities at Majorda and Utorda beach.
She also organizes health camps, conducts mosquito fumigation in her ward, coordinates Christmas celebrations and actively reaches out to underprivileged groups through charitable work.
She graduated from The Kings School in Sao Jose de Areal, completed her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from S S Dempo College of Commerce & Economics in Cujira and went on to pursue her Master’s in International Business at Cologne Business School in Germany. She was a finalist in the International Spelling Bee held in Malaysia and was active in sports. Currently, she works at Aditya Birla Capital.
