Residents demand ‘swasth, surakshit, sajag’ Gurugram
As a majority of candidates in the upcoming elections fail to meet the expectations of Gurugram residents, they have now released a demand letter advocating for a ‘Swasth, Surakshit and Sajag Gurugram’.
Key demands
- Ensure footpaths and zebra crossings to make all streets safe and walkable
- Improve safety of public places and public transport by conducting regular safety audits, generating gender disaggregated data and strengthening tech and app-based helplines and emergency response
- Create a single window helpline to aid victims/survivors of sexual crimes
- Strengthen capacity of police officers on sexual and gender-based violence
- Provide counselling and mental health services in all police stations
- Initiate dialogue between diverse communities to foster harmony and peace
- Activate ward committees to improve localised governance
- Ensure inclusion of women, elderly, minorities and other under-represented segments of population in decision-making forums
- Ensure proper counting in next Census to reflect actual population, aid accurate urban planning
The white paper, which highlights the key issues plaguing the city and largely absent from campaign manifestos, has been prepared by various social forums like Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs). It has been shared with all political parties.
“We envision a healthy, safe and sustainable Gurugram that supports the aspirations of all residents such as living and working with ease, besides safety, wellbeing and harmony. We believe these goals can best be achieved through an empowered local governance system, where residents can participate and where elected leaders are held accountable,” states the preface of the white paper.
Seeking a “Swasth Gurugram” (healthy Gurugram), the paper calls for improvements in waste management, a complete ban on plastic and waste burning and better air quality through the conservation of the Aravallis. It also advocates reducing vehicular load by improving public transport, making green areas encroachment-free, eliminating construction and demolition waste and improving drainage to tackle persistent waterlogging.
The document demands enhancements to existing primary health centres and schools through infrastructure upgrades and the introduction of “smart” solutions. It also calls for the opening of health sub-centres as proposed under the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) guidelines, an increase in the number and quality of public toilets — especially for women and the differently abled — and the promotion of sports.
The white paper also talks of mental health, proposing the creation of community centres, senior citizen clubs and public libraries.
