Rais Shaikh

Shaikh[6] has carried out the work to maintain and construct dilapidated roads, resolve water shortage problems[7] not only in his ward but the entire area of Govandi.[8] He has multiple goals that include providing digital classrooms to all schools,[9] setting up technology to enable virtual autopsies in post-mortem centers[10] and has proposed to provide online birth and death certificates[11] and underground parking below open spaces in South Mumbai.[12] Shaikh's Ahtesaab Foundation[13] has provided the first digital classroom of this city to a School in Govandi. He believes that there is a need to do something about the traffic congestion in Mumbai and hence suggested to start Mini Bus services.[14] He has also presented a program to improve slum infrastructure.[15][16]

An English medium school run by BMC with support from NGO Ahtesaab which to the growing needs of parents in the area who want to send their children to an English medium school. He introduced Digital Learning where he developed 2 classrooms each in Govandi and Madanpura as modern digital classrooms. He also proposed the Semi English format of Education in BMC and introduced an all-English School by the name of Umar Rajjab Public School.[17]

In 2018, Rais Shaikh, as a councilor, sanctioned a huge amount of two crores and seventy-five lacs to renovate the Mukti Fauj Dawakhana (Salvation Army Dispensary), one of the oldest dispensaries in the city which was in very bad shape then. Rais personally looked after all the deconstruction work and ensured that it has all the amenities and facilities which would help people get treatment for different kind of diseases at a nominal cost.[18]

On September 9, 2018, Rais Shaik led a rally with party members and people from his constituency to protest against the illegal sale and consumption of drugs. The rally covered different areas like Madanpura, Nagpada, and Byculla.[19]

Rais asked for a hike in the salaries of corporators in May 2017. He demanded corporators to be paid a salary of Rs. 50, 000. At that time, corporators were getting a measly salary of Rs. 10, 000. A corporator, as a part of his or her duty, has to be on the move all the time and have to meet people from different areas on a regular basis to address their problems. While condemning corruption in politics, Rais stated that corporators must be paid the kind of amount that would not at least not make them worried about managing their personal expenses.[20]

Rais advocated the implementation of some measures with the help of which the situation can be improved. Rais and his team carried out an initiative called ‘Police Didi’ under which four female constables were deployed and they were the ones who spoke to the girls and the women in these areas. Several men were arrested because of the testimonies by these women. Every municipality has a gender budget but it is not implemented properly. Rais has demanded for the formation of a monitoring committee for the same.[21]

Rais Shaikh fought a long fight for the rehabilitation of people who were living in shabbily built homes and under poor conditions in different parts of his constituency. He met Ajoy Mehta, the then Commissioner of Mumbai, and requested him to take some steps regarding the same. Commissioner Mehta informed Rais about a government initiative called Mahatma Gandhi Pad Kranti Yojana under which homes could be provided to the slum dwellers. Rais and his team got into action and made all the necessary arrangements for the people to apply for this initiative. In May 2019, his efforts finally bore fruit as several families who lived in poorly built homes were issued with allotment letters and given flats in different areas.[22]

Rais Shaikh was one of the few politicians to raise their voice against the gang rape and murder incident that took place in Hathras district in Uttar Pradesh. In an interview, Rais criticized the ruling government of Uttar Pradesh sharply and stated that the cover-up that happened post the incident was a glaring example of the incompetence of the government. He further said that people who do not believe in democratic principles have no right to rule over this country.[23]

In Bhiwandi, there was just one government hospital with four ventilators. Because of the initiative taken by Rais, the hospital got some of its facilities upgraded. Currently, the hospital has 11 ventilators and a central gas pipeline. Rais’ efforts also resulted in getting a dispensary built inside a mosque in Bhiwandi. The doubling ratio improved and the death rate slowed down gradually. On one particular occasion, Rais visited the government hospital and realized some of the doctors were scared about working inside the hospital and were going away on leave. To motivate them and make them feel assured about their safety, Rais went inside the ICU wearing a PPE kit. After this, the doctors and the staff resumed their duties and work went on smoothly inside the hospital.

On March 30, 2020, Municipal Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi stated that people who die of Coronavirus should be cremated and not buried, irrespective of their religion. Asif Zakaria, corporator from Bandra, informed Rais about this advisory. There was a vague line in the advisory which states that those who want to bury their relatives or family members should go out of Mumbai. Rais took a stand against this and said it was unreasonable and highly discriminatory against one religion. According to the Commissioner, this happened because kabristans are very crowded. Rais reasoned out that not all cemeteries are crowded. He met a lot of politicians and expressed his concern over this advisory with them. The circular was amended and the revised version which was published stated that dead bodies can be buried in crematoriums considering that it is not situated in a very densely populated area.[24]

Rais introduced the concept of a one-rupee clinic in Bhiwandi and also initiated a door to door campaign right from the early days of the pandemic hitting the country. Under this campaign, the oxygen level of every individual was examined. All the other necessary tests to check the symptoms of Covid-19 were done. After doing these tests, one could see the result in 15 minutes.[25]