Nagpur Mayor Launches Ambitious Education and Civic Development Agenda
Nagpur witnessed a significant shift in municipal governance as Neeta Thakre assumed office as the city's 55th mayor on Monday. In her inaugural media briefing, Mayor Thakre unveiled a comprehensive and ambitious development blueprint centered on educational reform, healthcare expansion, and enhanced civic amenities.
Revolutionizing Municipal Education with English Medium Schools
The cornerstone of Mayor Thakre's vision is a groundbreaking initiative to establish English medium schools operated by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) across all 38 prabhags of the city. This represents a substantial expansion from the current 13 such institutions managed by the civic body.
"Quality education at the neighborhood level forms the bedrock of inclusive urban development," declared Thakre, emphasizing her commitment to educational accessibility. She highlighted the growing aspiration among lower and middle-income families for English medium education, which often forces parents to stretch their financial resources to afford private schooling.
"If good-quality English education is available within municipal schools, it will ease the financial burden on parents," Thakre asserted, identifying the strengthening of civic schools as her administration's top priority.
Holistic Student Support and Gender-Sensitive Initiatives
Beyond academic infrastructure, Mayor Thakre outlined supportive measures specifically designed for student welfare, with particular attention to female students. She strongly endorsed the distribution of sanitary pads to girls enrolled in NMC schools, framing this initiative as essential for preserving dignity, maintaining health, and ensuring educational continuity.
"Education transcends classrooms and textbooks; it must address the real-life challenges confronting our students," Thakre remarked, signaling a more comprehensive approach to municipal education.
Addressing Civic Infrastructure and Water Supply Challenges
The mayor's development roadmap extends significantly into basic civic amenities, beginning with water supply management. While acknowledging persistent shortages in certain city areas, Thakre noted substantial improvements compared to previous years and firmly rejected allegations of political interference in water tanker distribution.
"I have personally visited affected localities to understand ground realities," she stated, pledging to expedite ongoing water supply projects to deliver long-term solutions for residents.
Healthcare Expansion and Environmental Sustainability
Healthcare initiatives featured prominently in the mayor's address, with Thakre highlighting existing free medical examination programs run by the NMC. She committed to expanding these services with renewed emphasis on affordability and accessibility for all Nagpur residents.
Environmental protection emerged as another critical priority, with the mayor vowing strict enforcement of rainwater harvesting regulations. Thakre warned that violations would not be tolerated, especially in new construction projects, demonstrating her administration's commitment to sustainable urban development.
Enhancing Public Transport and Urban Management
On transportation and urban management, Mayor Thakre reported that the NMC currently operates approximately 450 buses, many equipped with CCTV cameras and panic buttons to enhance passenger safety. She assured residents of further fleet expansion while calling for improved coordination between municipal authorities, police, and administration to address encroachment and hawker-related issues through balanced, effective solutions.
This multi-faceted agenda establishes Mayor Neeta Thakre's administration as one focused on transformative urban governance through educational empowerment, infrastructure development, and responsive public service delivery.
