Former Taekwondo national champion Razia Bano, who is also a JD(U) candidate from Okhla, promises to start an institute for girls in her constituency to train them for self-defense if voted to power.
Taking about the problems faced by people in Okhla, Razia said that crime against women especially eve-teasing is increasing. “To approach the authority is an option but nothing can be better if you are able to protect yourselves by using your own skills. Empowering women would mean empowering society. The decision to open an institute is a step in this direction. I want to make them able to protect themselves in adverse circumstances,” she said.
Highlighting the apathy of the corporation to deal with deadly menace of diseases caused by mosquito she said, almost the entire constituency has become a huge breeding ground for mosquitoes. People have earlier complained to councillors, but nothing happened. Besides, the issues of choked drains and overflowing sewage water that is often seen entering peoples’ homes are also need to be addressed, she added.
“Cleanliness is a major issue all over Delhi. We have to clean all the filth lying around. Garbage dumps have become sources of dreaded diseases like dengue, malaria and tuberculosis. Mostly the victims of these diseases are women and children. Unfortunately, nothing has been done to solve this problem by either the previous councillors or the State Government,” she said.
On her door-to-door campaign, Razia is discussing the issues with the people of her constituency. “In the MCD school in Okhla Vihar, children of Class V are not able to identify basic vowels. This is really a matter of concern as they are going to be bright future of our country,” she said.
“There are no play schools for children, which is again a matter of concern, especially for working women. People residing in lower Income Group (lIG) flats were promised clean drinking water, but unfortunately nothing has moved. So, it is high time for change,” she explained.
The party’s national general secretary and Delhi unit in-charge Sanjay Jha said JD (U) candidate from Okhla Razia is a woman of action. It is good to see that she is determined to start an institute for girls in her constituency to teach them self defense skills, he added.
The BJP has been ruling the MCD since 2007. The last polls were held in 2012.The much-awaited polls will decide the fate of 272 councillors. While NDMC and SMDC have 104 seats each, EDMC has 64 seats.
The total number of electorate for the civic polls stands at 1, 32, 10,206, which has 73, 15,915 men, 58, 93,418 women and 793 voters in the other category, according to the State Election Commission.