Hyderabad: Will focus on slum issues says Dr Juweria Fatima

Corporator-elect of Old Malakpet division Dr Juweria Fatima, representing AIMIM, won for the second time in the recent GHMC elections. The 30-year-old is a resident of Peace colony, Old Malakpet. The division is reserved for women (BC). For the last two terms, she won with a majority of votes. Her husband, Mohammed Saifuddin Shafi, has been an active party worker for the last 15 years.

Old Malakpet comes under Malakpet constituency of Ahmed Bin Abdullah Balala. According to Dr Fatima, the division does not have major issues, except in localities that come under slums. "People who reposed faith in me have given me another opportunity to serve them. The result reflects the works I have undertaken during the last term," she remarks.

She said "in the present term I have executed many works, including proper roads, sewerage system and many major civic works. Even slums now have good roads, which have been amongst my priorities. My focus is to develop slum areas. My husband is active and on ground 24X7 for the residents of Old Malakpet.

Most works will be done under his supervision." Explaining the works, Saifuddin said "the corporator has ensured development works worth Rs 22 crore, laying of roads, CRMP/PPM works, change of water pipelines, construction of community halls and veterinary hospital, development of 11 parks and playground. More works are in progress."

When asked about the action plan for this term, Dr Fatima said her personal interests are children education, jobs for unemployed and improvising health care. There are three Basti Dawakhanas in the division; another one is proposed on the corporator's representation. There are three and one more is in progress. It was actually proposed for some other locality, but on my request, it came up in slums, she said.

As there is no UPHC in the division, she had proposed one with a maternity centre with at least 20 beds in the Housing Board Colony. "There are four government schools for children; but no college. Last year the area MLA proposed for a government polytechnic in Mahboob Mansion, but it is yet to materialise. We are constantly proposing a government college in the division," she said.

Another problem is lack of banks in the division. She hopes authorities would act on her representation. Coming to the benefits of government schemes, over 1,500 loans were disbursed for street vendors. "We are helping more in securing pensions (widow, single women, disabled) and get benefits of schemes like Shaadi Mubarak and Kalyana Lakshmi. She points out that several representations were given for improved maintenance of Mahboob Gunj market.