Hello Helsinki!
No city dweller left behind!
Towards equality between residents and neighbourhoods in Helsinki.
Have you wondered if your life in Helsinki can be better than it is now? Better access to nature, more affordable housing, closer local services, a variety of hobbies for your children?
Or are you satisfied with how well the public transportation system works, how good the schools are, how easy it is to get high quality public healthcare, and how the snow ploughs work all night to ensure a smooth life for you and your loved ones?
Whether you cannot wait to have your ideas to improve the city realised, or want to make sure current services continue in the future as well, join us as we attempt to make our shared home, our Helsinki, friendlier, enjoyable and more equal. For everyone.
My name is Arvind Ramachandran. I am an immigrant from India and have lived in Helsinki for 10 years. An architect and urban planner by training, I have served as an employee representative for 5 years in my previous workplace, and am currently active in the labour union. Outside of work, I am participate in equality and human rights initiatives, organise events that build community, and dabble in stand-up comedy.
I have had the privilege of living in vibrant, diverse, and multi-ethnic cities across three continents. My dreams for a better Helsinki are influenced by the movements that have shaped these cities, from anti-caste struggles in India, migrant rights initiatives in Northern Europe, to the US civil rights movement. I continue to lean on and learn from feminist, anti-racist, anti-colonial, indigenous and labour rights communities to enrich my political work.
4 years ago, I could vote in the Finnish local elections for the first time, and decided to run as a candidate as well. I believed that as an outsider, I had something new to offer to make Helsinki better for the many, and not just the few. 417 voters, including many first-time voters without Finnish citizenship, agreed with me.
The results weren’t enough for me to become a city councillor, but as a deputy member of the urban environment committee (Aug 2021 – Aug 2022), deputy member of the environment and permits sub-committee (Mar – Jul 2024), and most recently, as a deputy city councillor (since Sep 2024), I have had the honour of being part of various decisions that have made Helsinki a better city for everyone.
I am once again running for election in the 2025 municipal elections as a candidate for The Left Alliance in the Helsinki election district, with an aim to become a city councillor this time.
Cities are my passion, and I look forward to collaborating with a diverse and motivated group of Helsinki residents to make a difference in the way our city is designed, built and run.
The main goal of the campaign is to reduce social inequality in the city, both between residents and between neighbourhoods. We aim to realise a city for everyone, especially those who are often ignored, such as children, youth, single parents, unemployed, elders, ethnic, gender and sexual minorities, people with disabilities, those with international backgrounds and the homeless.
We will achieve this by:
Improving access to basic services across the city, with special focus on underserved areas
Lessening adverse short and long term environmental impacts of urban development
Promoting feeling of belonging to the city among different population groups
Supporting those experiencing marginalisation due to individual situations or structural challenges
On these pages is presented a vision for a city which works for the many, and not just the few. You will also find general information about the upcoming municipal elections in Finland.
You are most welcome to join us on this collective journey towards a friendlier, enjoyable and more equal Helsinki!
Follow, support and share the campaign through the pages below:
https://www.arvind.cc
https://www.facebook.com/arvindrchn
https://www.instagram.com/arvindrchn
Donate to the campaign:
https://www.arvindramachandran.com/donate
Get in touch:
arvind(at)arvind.cc
Thanks in advance and looking forward to working with you!