Chandigarh: 2 ex-mayors stand out for showing what woman power is

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Although Sharma’s slapping controversy — once she thrashed one of the gamblers and once the father who came drunk on the cremation of his child — invited criticism from political parties, she is proud of her act. “They say I took law in my hands. If I need to get a person on the right track, I will take law in my hands. That person who is openly breaking the law is roaming free and doesn’t even bother about his wife and children,” said Sharma.

In the first month after she took charge as the mayor, Sharma introduced baby kits. Along with the UT Adviser, she went in colonies to congratulate those who had been blessed with girl children. “Ever since the mayor went in colonies to congratulate women who were blessed with girls, the entire scenario changed. Those women with baby girls walk holding their heads high today,” said Manjula, a resident of Maloya.

Then there was Kamlesh who remained the mayor twice. From a telephone operator to a city mayor, Kamlesh set an example by winning the seat from Ramdarbar. In 1996, Kamlesh was the sole Congress candidate in MC. Before getting into politics, she began with setting up of PCOs at colleges to give facilities to students.

“I remember how she had set up a PCO at our college when there was no such concept. And see she became a city mayor then,” said Ridhima, a student of a Chandigarh college.

Kamlesh went around the city colonies for women’s upliftment. Although she is not a councillor anymore, she runs a programme: ‘Respect women, protect women’.

While Anu Chatrath, a senior advocate who too remained on the coveted post of mayor twice, floated the idea of a women’s helpline or a women’s police station.

“My focus was women’s upliftment and the first thing was safety for them. So I urged the police to have a dedicated helpline or a women police staff only for women,” said Chatrath.