Meet Meghana Gaddam, New Zealand’s Indian origin Youth Parliament member

(January 5, 2023) Meghana Gaddam stood before the New Zealand parliament, greeting the speaker with a ‘Namaskaram’ before turning to the minister of health to ask, “How do health system reforms address the existing nationwide resource constraint in the health sector particularly labour shortages.” By her side stood MP Tim van de Molen, whom she was assisting. Meghana is a member of the Youth Parliament, part of a novel method of functioning in the New Zealand government. Citizens elect close to 120 MPs, each one of whom works in close association with a nominated Youth Parliament member.

In 2022, when Meghana was nominated for the role, her responsibilities included helping the MP deal with issues related to the youth and to act as their voice within the parliament.She has been working with Waikato’s MP Tim van de Molen with a focus on shelter for every person, especially in the wake of Covid-19 induced poverty and homelessness.

Meghana Gaddam in the New Zealand Parliament

“Nothing is impossible for a strong-willed person, if one is determined to do best to achieve their goals in life,” she remarked while interacting with media after getting selected for the coveted role.

Inclination towards social work

The Youth Parliament is held every three years, providing young New Zealanders the chance to learn first-hand about the country’s democracy, influence decision-making and have their voices heard. As the government made its selection, it recognized Meghana’s exposure to social service and efforts to raise funds for orphans in Waikato.

“With my friends, I had taken up activities to support orphans and kids from refugee camps who had migrated from Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq,” she revealed in an interview.

Meghana Gaddam with MP Tim van de Molen in New Zealand Parliament

Tim Van de Molen, the MP whom Meghana is currently ,assisting remarked in an interview that the four-minute video, where she gave her opinion on issues facing youth in the Waikato, was excellent and seemed as if it came straight from the Parliament’s general debate.

From India to New Zealand

Meghana’s father, Gaddam Ravikumar immigrated to New Zealand twenty-two years ago with his newly wedded wife, and settled in Waikato as a real estate businessman. Meghana was born there, and the family has been staying in St Kilda.

Meghana Gaddam with her parents

Always a bright student, she completed her International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme’ (IBDP) from St Peter’s, Cambridge, graduating as head girl.

Meghana excelled academically and also participated in various social service initiatives in school. She did a two-year stint at the Refugee Orientation Centre Trust in Hamilton and was an active Model United Nations participant.

This laid the foundation of the people’s person that the nineteen-year-old Global Indian eventually became.

The Indian roots

Though born and brought up in New Zealand, the youth icon of the island country hasn’t forgotten her Indian roots. Visiting her native place, Tanguturu in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh with her parents has been an annual affair.

The youngster fluently converses in Telugu and clued in to Indian culture. She is also always in the thick of traditions followed by the diaspora.

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