A market devoid of basic facilities

With Russel market, the Shivajinagar new market, meat shops and plenty of other shops, garbage disposal is a big challenge here.

The needs in Shivajinagar are basic: clean drinking water, good drainage system and garbage disposal. But all of them are tough to get.

Nabeela Banu, a housewife and resident, said: “Clean drinking water is not available here and summer is the worst season.”

Zakir Ahmed, a shop owner, said that despite having the maximum number of shops, the Palike has so far not taken any interest in regularly clearing the garbage. He added: “There has been several occasions where shop owners themselves have cleared the garbage and sewage. The least the shop owners expect is for Palike to regularly clear the garbage.”

Walking from shop to shop talking to citizens, Naheema Begum, Congress candidate from the ward, vows to resolve the sewage and drinking water problems.

Contesting for the first time, Naheema Begum, has been a grassroot worker in Congress for the past 22 years. She feels the BJP government has started infringing into the personal rights of citizens by passing the Cow slaughter ban bill.

“With the lower strata of society unable to afford the high price of mutton, they can afford only cow’s meat. By introducing the Bill, the government has interfered with people’s personal freedom,” Naheema remarked. But what stood out was her telling remark to a woman voter: “I will be available to you even after the elections.”