‘Transparent, smarter, faster, and corruption-free’

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde dreams of Mumbai’s transformation with innovative ideas and team work Pic: Bhushan Koyande On May 22, Ritu Tawde completed 100 days as Mumbai’s Mayor. She is the only second Mayor of the City of Dreams from the BJP. In an exclusive conversation with Minal Sancheti, Tawde outlines her plans for Mumbai in the coming days. Excerts… What were some of the challenges you faced in these 100 days? With the support of PM Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, I...

min read

‘Transparent, smarter, faster, and corruption-free’

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde dreams of Mumbai’s transformation with innovative ideas and team work Pic: Bhushan Koyande On May 22, Ritu Tawde completed 100 days as Mumbai’s Mayor. She is the only second Mayor of the City of Dreams from the BJP. In an exclusive conversation with Minal Sancheti, Tawde outlines her plans for Mumbai in the coming days. Excerts… What were some of the challenges you faced in these 100 days? With the support of PM Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, I got the position of Mayor of Mumbai. For four years, there were no corporators. People have expectations that the civic issues will be solved. Earlier, there was an administrator mindset and methodology of working without a corporator. This mindset needed to be changed. In addition to that, speeding up infrastructure work and projects was a big task. Civic issues due to pre-monsoon work, like drainage repair, cement concretisation of roads, and AQI, are the prime issues to be addressed. Can you tell us about your plans to make Mumbai develop in terms of environment as well as infrastructure? BMC is already implementing a cement concrete road project to ensure that the city is free from potholes. There are different infrastructure projects which are being undertaken by various authorities, including flyovers, metros, railover bridges, and redevelopment projects, etc. After the year 2014, Mumbai has seen rapid development projects such as the coastal road, Atal Setu, and Metro 3. These projects have really transformed Mumbai into a global city. BMC has also undertaken various infrastructure projects. Some of them have already been completed. As far as the environment is concerned, BMC has taken several measures. BMC has issued and is ensuring the strict implementation of pollution control guidelines. These guidelines apply to government construction sites and projects as well. BMC has developed urban forests at more than 60 places, and we are trying to create greener spaces at open plots, locations, and under flyovers, wherever possible. BMC also ensures the strict implementation of a ban on single-use plastics. We have approved the work on the Gargai Dam. The dam is being built to fulfil the future water needs of the city. It was long pending, and we also reduced the cost of building the dam. What changes are you planning in the city's administration? When contested elections were held by the BJP, we requested citizens to send suggestions so that we could achieve a good outcome and chalk out the plan. Based on that, we created a manifesto, and after winning the election, I, as a mayor and member of the Mahayuti alliance, have declared a 100-day programme. What are your priorities? Water, cleanliness, health, education, etc. My colleagues and I have decided to work on the ground because there is so much pre-monsoon work being carried out. This includes desilting rivers and nallas, road works, road repairing, trimming of trees, cleaning of side drains, and many others. Also, I visited some of the project sites, like the redevelopment of Siddharth Hospital and Rajawadi Hospital, to ensure speedy, proper work. The site visit always helps to take a stock of the situation and understand the ground realities. We see many demolitions being carried out. What do you plan to do with the spaces? The land, which is owned by the government, BMC, or any other authority, is always invaluable. These lands are important for developing the projects and extending the capacity of existing projects and infrastructure. Thus, if any encroachment or illegal construction is found, then it has to be demolished. Someone living on government land cannot claim ownership of the land. Before demolition, every authority ensures adherence to the procedure to vacate the space, which also includes verification of proof of residence and eligibility for rehabilitation. Those who are eligible get rehabilitation. What changes are you planning in the city's administration? We have started with the aim to transform the administration by making it citizen-friendly, faster, and smarter. By doing this, we want to meet the global standards. Mumbai, being the country’s financial capital, needs robust administration. We need 100 per cent digitalisation by incorporating AI at various levels and corruption-free governance. This is what we are aiming for. Being a local self-government, BMC is bound to provide basic civic services and amenities to the citizens of Mumbai. As I mentioned earlier, we have given sanction to the Gargai Dam project, which will boost water supply once completed. We have also launched the Mumbai Clean League 2026 to improve public sanitation and cleanliness at public and tourist places. This league will run for a year, and it will also invite public participation. We are also focusing on the improvement of the public health system. We are focused on the timely completion of hospital infrastructure projects, the development of the Hospital Information Management System, as well as the availability of medicines and other facilities. We have developed a dashboard where everyone can see the availability of beds at BMC hospitals. As far as education is concerned, we have initiated procurement of 27 articles from the GeM Portal, which are to be given free of cost to the students. This GeM procurement is happening for the first time in the history of BMC. The procurement will be placed on the GEM portal, ensuring a transparent and corruption-free process. This will also save crores of rupees. Do you think Mumbai's Mayor should have more executive powers? In what terms? Yes. Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and the financial capital of Bharat. BMC is the richest and biggest corporation in the world. Mayors and councillors are the representatives of citizens in general. To meet the expectations of the people, executive power and rights may be accorded. This would help to perform more efficiently. How do you look at the women's governance in the BMC? I am thankful to the CM Devendra Fadnavis. His visionary leadership and trust in women's power are something that the state has never seen before. In BMC, apart from the mayor, out of 27 different committees, 17 have been given to women, including BEST, Improvement, and Education Committee. The post of Municipal Commissioner has been given to a woman in the form of Mrs. Ashwini Bhide. It is for the first time that a lady has been appointed as a Municipal Commissioner in the history of 155 years of BMC. There are a total of 138 lady councillors in the house. There are many key administrative positions in which women are working. From the labourers to security, the disaster management, and administrative office work, in every possible position, women are showing they are efficient. In short, whether it is a deliberative wing or an administrative wing, women have already proved their mettle. However, society still needs to change its mindset and accept that women should be given more positions, rights, and dignity because women's empowerment ultimately results in the strengthening of society and the nation. What is something that you will do that the earlier Mayors did not do? Every mayor works in their own way, depending on the political party and the needs of the hour. Overall, the work depends on all the circumstances. So the work of a particular mayor cannot be compared to that of others. As the mayor of the BJP after 44 years in BMC, I feel that not only Mumbai or Maharashtra, but the entire nation is looking at the performance of the Mayor of Mumbai closely. I am aware of the expectation of the Mumbaikars since after four years Mumbai has got its Mayor. In the term, I will try my best. I will work for making Mumbai transparent, smarter, faster, and corruption-free governance. This will remain our core objective during the tenure. What is your dream project that you aim to complete? I wish to build a themed-based entrance at the check naka of Dahisar, Airoli, Mulund, and Vashi. We will make lounges, washrooms, restrooms, self-help group stalls, special rooms for women, a parking facility, a garden, and a green belt. We will ensure that the facility remains environmentally friendly. The work has already started at Dahisar.

National Sports Day: Beyond Names, Towards a Sporting Nation

Bhalchandra Chorghade
Nov 1, 2025
3 min read

National Sports Day is not just a tribute to Dhyan Chand, but a reminder of India’s potential to become a sporting powerhouse.

India celebrates National Sports Day on August 29, marking the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, regarded as the greatest player in the sport’s history. More than symbolic, the occasion reminds us of the values sports instil and their role in shaping a healthy, disciplined, and aspirational society.

Sports has its own language of identity, with athletes given unique titles based on their disciplines. Volleyball players are ‘spikers’, basketball players ‘cagers’ or ‘hoopsters’, and cue-sport professionals in snooker and billiards ‘cueists’. Boxers are pugilists, weightlifters are grapplers, and badminton players are shuttlers. Cricket, India’s most popular sport, has batsmen, pacers, spinners, and all-rounders. Footballers, too, are dubbed strikers, sweepers, or keepers. These titles are more than playful synonyms; they reflect a culture that celebrates specialisation, skill, and sporting identity.

Deeper significance

Beyond names and terminology lies the true essence of sport. For individuals, it fosters discipline, perseverance, teamwork, and resilience. A boxer learns not just to fight in the ring but to face setbacks with courage. A shuttler develops reflexes and endurance, along with patience and strategy. Grapplers show strength but, more importantly, embody persistence, building capability through years of training.

Sports uniquely mould character. The discipline to follow training, the commitment to stay fit, and the toughness to face victory or defeat prepare athletes for life’s challenges beyond the field. They also foster community and belonging. When basketball hoopsters share the court or football strikers coordinate with midfielders, they exemplify teamwork—a lesson relevant across personal and professional life.

Nation-building

At a societal level, sports are more than recreation; they are tools of nation-building. With its demographic dividend, India cannot afford to ignore the need to channel youthful energy into constructive avenues, such as sports. It fosters physical well-being, inclusivity, and gender equality. The rise of women in boxing, wrestling, badminton, and weightlifting—with icons like Mary Kom, P.V. Sindhu, and Mirabai Chanu—reflects this shift.

Sports also aid diplomacy and international recognition. From the Olympics to the Asian Games, every medal projects soft power and enhances India’s global standing. National Sports Day is thus not just a tribute to Dhyan Chand but a reminder of India’s potential to become a sporting powerhouse.

Recognising this potential, the Indian government has undertaken several initiatives to nurture sporting talent. The Khelo India Programme has become a cornerstone for spotting and nurturing young athletes across various disciplines, providing them with scholarships and structured training. The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) has been instrumental in preparing elite athletes for international events by providing financial and infrastructural support.

In addition, the development of sports infrastructure—stadiums, training centres, and academies—has been prioritised in several states. Schemes like the Fit India Movement aim to take fitness and sporting culture beyond athletes to the wider population, encouraging every citizen to make exercise and sport a part of daily life.

Yet, challenges remain. The concentration of resources in urban areas often leaves rural talent under-supported. Moreover, while cricket enjoys massive attention and sponsorship, other sports often struggle for visibility, funding, and media coverage. This imbalance continues to raise questions about whether India’s sporting culture is holistic or cricket-centric. National Sports Day provides an occasion to introspect on this imbalance and to strive towards giving every sport and every sportsperson their due recognition.

Road ahead

As India aspires to win more Olympic medals and expand its presence across international competitions, the need of the hour is a comprehensive ecosystem—one that combines grassroots training, modern infrastructure, scientific coaching, and most importantly, a cultural shift that values sport not merely as entertainment but as an essential pillar of holistic development.

The nomenclature of athletes—spikers, hoopsters, cueists, shuttlers—shows the diversity of disciplines that enrich the sporting world. But National Sports Day is an opportunity to remind ourselves that behind these names lie stories of grit, struggle, and triumph. Honouring them means more than celebrating their titles; it means supporting their journeys, recognising their sacrifices, and embedding the values of sport into everyday life.

In the words of Major Dhyan Chand himself, sports are not just about winning medals but about fostering unity, discipline, and character. On this National Sports Day, India must reaffirm its commitment to nurturing a sporting culture that lives up to his legacy.

1 Comment

Tim Smith

Nov 03, 2025

This article really made me reflect on how much sports shape not just individual lives but the broader culture of a nation. Growing up, I watched athletes train relentlessly, and it taught me that discipline, resilience, and teamwork aren’t just lessons for the field—they carry over into everyday challenges. What struck me most here is the emphasis on recognizing every sport and its athletes, beyond cricket’s massive popularity, which is something India is gradually addressing through programs like Khelo India and TOPS. While exploring ways to stay connected with different sports digitally, I came across resources like https://1winapk.pro/ where you can read review and get insights into various sports offerings, even though it’s not for playing. It’s a reminder that…