Tete-e-Tete with our new Mayor

March 4, 2010

Coastaldigest.com spoke to Ms. Rajani Duganna, Mayor, Mangalore City Corporation, with an intent to unearth and convey the dreams, aspirations, and plans that the first citizen of Mangalore has for the city. Ms. Duganna has been in politics for the past 25 years. She has served as Municipal Councillor of Surathkal for two terms and this is her third term as the Hosabettu Corporator in the Mangalore City Corporation. Given below are her plans and aspirations as told to Muriel Nirmala D’Silva:

Q1: What are your priorities as a Mayor?

A: I am basically concentrating on completion of infrastructure which has been initiated such as road works and provision of 24x7 water supply. About 36 kms of roads have been upgraded and work has been initiated on some others. The new pipelines which have been laid three to four months back will be sufficient to provide 100 % drinking water supply. Tenders are being processed for work on storm water drains. As per the plan Mangalore will have footpaths on all concretised roads with storm water drains under them.

Q2: When and why did you first join politics? Who inspired you?

A: I first joined politics 25 years back by contesting for the Surathkal Town Municipal Council. The people of Surathkal encouraged me to join politics as I was an active social worker. My husband K. Duganna inspired me. He was a Swayam Sevak of the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS member).

Q3: Having held the post of Deputy Mayor earlier, what do you think are the problems you would face in discharging your duty as a Mayor?

A: I don’t think there will be any problems because I am guided by Mr. Shankar Bhat who was the Mayor when I was the Deputy Mayor. Moreover as the immediate past Deputy Mayor I am aware of the situation and I have the Party’s support.

Q4: What is your contribution as a Deputy Mayor?

A: People’s problems were resolved.

Q5: How do you think you could co-ordinate better with MESCOM, BSNL, KUDCEMP etc so that the roads which you have concretised are not dug up again?

A: Not relevant at this point of time. There is no co-ordination committee right now.

Q6: As a woman what do you think are the problems you face while discharging your duty?

A: Everybody is co-operating. So I don’t have any problems.

Q7: Where are you originally from?

A: I am originally from Belthangady. I have two daughters and one son.

Q8: How do you cope with your responsibilities at home and as a Mayor?

A: I am a full time politician. I have got a daughter – in – law. So I don’t have any problem.

Q9: What is your reaction to the attack on newspaper offices in Mangalore on Tuesday?

A: I condemn the incidents. It is not acceptable by any standards. This is not how the media should be treated as they are the voice of the people.

Q10: What do you propose to do to bring about communal harmony in Mangalore?

A: Brotherhood is prevalent now and life has now come back to normal. Stray incidents happen in any house.

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