Many Communities, But One Loud & Clear Voice For Civic Solutions In Pune & Pimpri Chinchwad

Pune: Consistent water supply, clean and breathable air, increased green cover, better roads, smooth traffic, crime-free neighbourhoods, dedicated amenity spaces and more — citizens from all corners of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad have more or less similar needs.In addition to these basics, however, many smaller communities also face issues that are unique to their experience and equally deserve the attention of local elected representatives. And yet, in the absence of corporators for the last three years, not only have many larger picture issues gotten out of hand, but niche and marginalized communities are facing added troubles that they now demand must be addressed. Elected representatives have the power to ease standard of living for smaller social groups not just in their wards, but across the city. From building gender-neutral toilets for the transgender community and making walkways safer for senior citizens to reducing traffic and congestion in IT hubs like Hinjewadi, and even working towards the protection of community animals to reduce conflict with humans, a range of sidelined demands have come forth from smaller demographics across the city. As residents prepare to cast their vote on Thursday, how candidates plan to address these oft-ignored issues will also play a role in how residents belonging to such communities vote. Simple needs for a comfortable life post-retirement Pune was once known as a ‘Pensioner’s Paradise’. But as the city grew rapidly, infrastructure degraded and now, even going to a grocery store mere metres away from one’s home has become a difficult task for many senior citizens. “We need accessible footpaths that are in good condition. Broken paver blocks and uneven surfaces are not ideal for senior citizens. There should be railings on slopes and speed breakers in high traffic areas so that elderly people can cross with ease,” pointed out 73-year-old Chalakudi Subramanian Krishnan from Bavdhan. “Another amenity crucial for this group is public restrooms. There are nowhere near enough of these in the city, especially those that are maintained and clean,” he added. While senior citizens living in different localities have area-specific issues, walkable footpaths are the most common demand. This is followed by the need for some other basics to be less overpriced, such as autorickshaw drivers not fleecing them. Arun Deshmukh, founder of senior citizens’ organisation Park State, said that his biggest concern as a retired professional is how expensive things are. “A simple rickshaw ride for short distances means shelling out Rs50, which drivers insist on instead of the Rs25-30 fare by meter. Roads are not easy to navigate, and autos are expensive. Senior citizens who do not get a pension face this as an added expense. It is difficult to sustain,” he said. “Cybercrime issues are another major concern. Police and other relevant authorities need to step up. Innumerable senior citizens are falling prey to such scams and losing their life savings. Awareness is key, but catching cybercrooks is the only way to stop this,” he added. Housing, anti-discrimination mindset need of the hour For those belonging to the LGBTQIA community, housing topped the list of routine concerns. Many members told TOI that not only is it difficult for transgender persons to find homes, but even same-sex couples have a tough time due to blocks by members of many housing societies. Anil Ukrande, president of the Yutak LGBTQ Trust, said, “Govt has done well as far as employment opportunities to transgender persons go. However, finding homes is still a challenge for them. Govt buildings lying vacant could even be allotted for transgender-friendly housing, facilitating a life of quality for community members. In addition, making medication associated with gender dysmorphia cheaper and easily available at govt hospitals is something corporators can push for. Mental health services also need to be made more affordable and accessible.” At the core of these changes lies sensitization of society and those in power to make policies more inclusive, said activists. Executive director of Mist Foundation Sriram Sridhar also focused on the need for increased housing opportunities for the transgender community and same-sex couples, who he said have a tough time renting homes today. “Corporators need to float an anti-discrimination law that will be applicable for a truly inclusive mindset to prevail. Such a law could give protection to a majority of the LGBTQIA community, be it in case of housing issues, instances of violence or even employment opportunities. Filing cases at police stations could also become easier as a result,” Sridhar told TOI. Inclusivity while planning and skill update for PwDs Inclusion for persons with disabilities (PwD) starts by making polling booths accessible, with not just ramps but also tactile marking and assistance while voting, said Anita Iyer, founder of the Ekansh Trust, a city-based organisation working in this sector for years. “Through our organisation, we have been trying for a long time to get govt offices and city roads streamlined according to existing laws. At present, uneven surfaces, numerous obstructions on roads and lack of consistency overall are a big issue when it comes to footpaths or even carriageways. Whatever corporators can help with, whether it is education, roads, govt schemes to encourage entrepreneurship or even health services, should all be looked at from an inclusive lens. It would also be good for corporators to undergo a sensitization workshop to understand the PwD community and its needs better,” Iyer said. Voices from the community echoed these concerns. Reema Patil, who is visually impaired, said even surfaces must become the topmost priority. “All potholes should be filled and footpaths made good enough for us to walk on. Bus stops, railway bogeys and other modes of public transport can have audio beepers to help with navigation. Employment opportunities for PwDs would be a great push for us to be able to improve our quality of life. Technical skill development is also something that corporators can push for to make us more self-reliant,” Patil said. Inclusion in the planning stage is a good way to ensure that schemes and the city’s infrastructure takes everyone’s needs into consideration. Irfan Pathan, a Sinhagad Road resident who uses a wheelchair, said that he recently visited the Pune Book Festival, but finding a way to enter was a tough task for him. “Smaller issues like this can easily be resolved if the community is included in the planning process. In addition, corporators need to find ways to make PwDs independent via entrepreneurship opportunities. Skill updation is crucial and corporators can even help by generating awareness about various schemes for those within their wards. Even work-from-home opportunities can be explored for the PwDs who cannot leave home,” Pathan suggested. Basic infra crucial to better quality of life & work Choosing a city that plays home to Maharashtra’s biggest IT Park, software professionals choose to live in and around tech hubs — be it Hinjewadi or other areas like Kharadi — so that they can get to their offices on time. But road infrastructure in such upcoming neighbourhoods still barely meets the bare minimum standards. Residents of Tathawade, Punawale, Mhalunge, Wakad and some parts of Baner travel primarily to Hinjewadi for work. Shoddy and waterlogged roads, neverending traffic snarls, missing footpaths and ever-prevalent dust make working and living in these areas a challenge today. Forum for IT Employees (FITE) Maharashtra chapter president Pavanjeet Mane told TOI, “Residents of all these areas pay heavily for water supply. But not only is the basic infrastructure missing, even in places where it exists, tanker mafia doesn’t allow civic supply to reach residents. It is manmade scarcity and has persisted for nearly a decade. There are many other aspects in which lack of civic planning is seen in IT park areas, which gets reflected in everyday issues, and in the fact that companies are leaving the city.” “The one thing we need for sure is for local representatives to be a conduit to answers. Just like the ‘janata darbar’ concept, we need corporators to come up with a system that connects us to decision-makers or even the chief minister and deputy CMs for quick resolution of issues,” said Mane, who resides in Mhalunge. According to him, faster resolution of issues related to termination and notice period for IT employees and awareness around available jobs should also be on the list of issues corporators look into. Dattatraya Deshmukh, an IT professional and resident of Wakad, said his biggest issue is travel time. “Very often, poor infrastructure forces companies to move to other areas. Then, employees who have bought houses close to their earlier workplaces suddenly have to travel long distances. Corporators of respective wards can look into why the companies left and how they can ensure this does not repeat. Reduced travel time would help improve quality of life for all employees,” Deshmukh, who works in Kharadi, said. Diverse groups speak up Parking and traffic are our two major issues. The roads in the core city areas are extremely narrow and when vehicles are parked, the carriageway width reduces further. Pedestrians also take up the road as the footpaths are sometimes inaccessible. So, whoever is elected has to work on dedicated parking spaces in areas around Laxmi Road because our businesses get affected as a result of this. Traffic is also another issue, which is related to parking. We further need public toilets for women in and around Laxmi Road, as currently there are none and this too is a problem — Sanjay Munhot | President, Laxmi Road Traders Association At present, the lack of corporators makes it difficult to raise questions on behalf of the hospitality industry. Several issues have been pending for a long time due to the delay in civic polls. Some of the key issues we want corporators to address include reduction of property taxes and sky sign fees. We would also like for the permission process for various permits to be fast-tracked and made more efficient. Restaurant owners and associations also want access to the municipal commissioner to be able to take our issues to him — Ajinkya Udane | Pune Co-Chapter Head, National Restaurant Association of India Unregulated growth of autorickshaws has pushed our city beyond its carrying capacity. Easy loans and an open permit policy are flooding the streets with 9–10 new autos daily, creating congestion and leaving thousands of drivers idle. Newly elected corporators must urgently correct this imbalance through rational permit control. At the same time, migrant auto and cab drivers access to affordable govt housing schemes, as today’s urban real-estate prices are far beyond their reach — Keshav Kshirsagar | President, Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha Getting to college is a challenge, given how terrible the roads are in every part of the city. Better road infrastructure will support lower travel time as it will reduce traffic and help students like me reach our classes on time in a hassle-free way. In addition, better library facilities, not just on campus, but throughout the city, are also crucial to help students thrive, as those living far away might not be able to come to college on off-days. Public transport must also be improved for seamless commute — Nikita Rajpurohit | Psychology studentOur demands are simple. We want transparency, especially when it comes to animal bite statistics, whether these are by pet dogs or community animals. Corporators must also push for increased sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccine drives with the help of volunteers. Raising awareness in the form of information dissemination by civic bodies is important, as is the sensitization of various officials and police officers to be able to correctly resolve human-animal conflict — Neena Rai | Animal welfare activist Corporators must play a proactive role in attracting investments to the city; this should be one of their core responsibilities. Higher investments directly lead to job creation for local residents and help strengthen Pune’s economic ecosystem. PMC should establish an Investment Promotion Centre. Allocating dedicated spaces within municipal limits as manufacturing and services clusters for women-led enterprises would encourage greater participation, foster entrepreneurship, and generate local employment. Finally, most Global Capability Centres (GCCs) operate within corporation limits. Corporators should ensure that the infrastructure and civic needs of these GCCs are clearly understood and adequately met, as they are currently generating employment at a faster pace than traditional IT companies, further strengthening Pune’s job market — Prashant Girbane | Director-general, Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture