As Nagpur approaches the long-awaited Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) election, women across the city are hopeful of electing public representatives who will understand their concerns and address them effectively in the civic body. For Laxmi Shahu living in the Vasantrao Naik basti beside Bole Petrol Pump, the election brings hope for better education. Her two children were recently shifted from a municipal school to another Marathi-medium school. She assumed it would be a smooth transition as the language medium remained the same, but it was the opposite.

 

“They are scared and confused in class, and they say many things were not taught earlier.” she said. “I can not afford tuitions, nor can I teach them myself.” The experience has made her question the quality of civic schools. She added that improvement in teaching standards matters more than free textbooks or uniforms. Yet, even basic civic services remain uneven. In Ram Nagar, residents near Hilltop described the daily struggle of managing with low water pressure. “The water supply is irregular, and even when it comes, we have to plan our entire day around water. I am a working woman and it becomes very difficult to manage all this.” One woman said. For her, the expectation from an elected body is transparency, and solutions that last beyond a few months. In other parts of the city, women pointed to changes that have improved daily life.

 

Ameena Ansari, a young working woman from Itwari spoke about feeling safer on the road since women-driven pink autos began operating in busy localities. Earlier, she avoided shared autos during crowded hours for safety concerns. “Now, when I see a woman driving, I feel more comfortable,” she said. She Ansari hopes such options become visible in Nagpur, allowing women to choose safer modes of travel. For younger women, the challenge also lies inside public offices. A Vidhi Lanjewar, a 19-year-old student, spoke about feeling dismissed during routine visits for documentation. “I am polite, punctual, and I follow the process,” she said.

 

“Still, I’m sent from one counter to another.” However, the moment her father comes along with her, everyone starts taking her more seriously. She worries such experiences erode confidence. She added that not only do these instances cause unnecessary stress, it also takes away the trust that people put in the authorities and makes citizens more hesitant to approach them in their time of need. Together, these women point to a shared hope that the next civic body will listen, respond, and build a city where women feel supported, respected, and secure in their everyday lives.