Nagpur: After taking over as city’s 55th mayor on Monday, Neeta Thakre announced an ambitious plan to start English medium schools run by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) in each of the city’s 38 prabhags. Currently, NMC runs 13 such schools in the city.Making the announcement at her first media interaction after assuming charge, Thakre said quality education at the neighbourhood level would be central to her vision of inclusive urban development.The mayor said that parents from the lower as well as middle-income groups aspire for English medium education for their children, forcing families to spend beyond their means on private schools. “If good-quality English education is available within municipal schools, it will ease the financial burden on parents,” Thakre said, adding that strengthening civic schools remains a top priority for her.Alongside academic expansion, Thakre underlined the need for supportive measures for students, particularly girls. She endorsed the distribution of sanitary pads to girls studying in NMC schools, describing it as a necessary step for dignity, health, and continuity in education. “Education is not just about classrooms and textbooks; it is also about addressing real-life challenges faced by students,” she said.Thakre also outlined a broader development roadmap focused on basic civic amenities. On water supply, she acknowledged that shortages continued in parts of the city but said the situation has improved significantly compared to previous years. She rejected allegations of political control over tanker water distribution and said she personally visited affected localities to understand the problem on the ground. Ongoing water supply works, she said, would be expedited to provide long-term relief.Healthcare initiatives also featured prominently in her address. Thakre highlighted free medical examination schemes run by the civic body. She said these programmes would be expanded further, with an emphasis on affordable and accessible healthcare.Environmental protection and sustainability were identified as another priority area. The mayor stressed strict implementation of rainwater harvesting norms, warning that violations would not be tolerated, particularly in new constructions. On public transport and women’s safety, Thakre said the NMC operates around 450 buses, many equipped with CCTV cameras and panic buttons, and assured that the fleet would be further expanded. She also called for better coordination with the police and administration to address encroachments and hawker-related issues in a balanced manner.
