KOCHI: If it's a holiday for panchayat office, the panchayat president will be on site as concreting mason. 69-year old Grama panchayat president of Njarayykal, Ernakulam works both as an administrator and as a mason.

When he started construction work 43 years ago, he did no other public service other than being a Congress member. This is his third term as an elected representative. During his first term in 2000, he clashed with the party and contested independently. He protested against the candidate selection in his own ward. His victory was by 17 votes. In 2010, he won a majority of 186 votes for Congress. In 2020, he clashed with the party again and contested as an independent. In the 16-member governing council, he joined the Left front. Although he became president, he was not ready to quit his job and works on holidays. The panchayat president will work for Rs.1000 while the other masons will get a daily wage of Rs.1100.

From an early age, he travels in bicycles and still does. Francis says that his secret to stay healthy at the age of sixty-nine is his cycling habit for decades. Daisy is his wife. Children: Prince, Preeja, Preeju. Son-in-law: Raiju, Keerthi. Both sons work with the father in mason job.