Mumbai's Civic Body Embraces Youthful Energy with New Gen Z Leaders
Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is witnessing a significant generational shift. The new House welcomes as many as 12 newly elected corporators who belong to Generation Z, all aged under 30. This infusion of young blood promises to bring a fresh perspective to the city's civic governance.
A Diverse Mix of Experience and Youth
While the House still includes a sprinkling of elderly corporators and its largest cohort remains middle-aged, the arrival of these young leaders marks a notable change. The youngest among them is Kashish Fulwaria, elected from Ward 151. She follows in the footsteps of her father, former corporator Rajesh Fulwaria, who represented the ward from 2017 to 2022.
Kashish, a BMS graduate currently pursuing an MBA, shared her vision. "I have seen how my father, who has been in politics for over 20 years, worked," she said. "My priority will be to complete all pending works which have not been paid attention to for the past three years." She emphasized that addressing basic civic amenities should be a nagarsevak's primary focus.
Young Leaders with Political Pedigrees and Fresh Ideas
Another notable young corporator is Disha Yadav, elected from Ward 80. A jewellery designer running her own startup, Disha is the child of two former corporators. She expressed confidence in understanding ground-level work, having observed her parents closely. "I will learn about the civic administration in due course," she added.
Disha's father, Sunil Yadav, previously represented this ward but passed away during the Covid pandemic. "I would like to see upgrades and modernisation of civic services, besides beautification, and will work towards that," she stated.
Dr. Saman Azmi, a homeopath elected from Ward 167, chose to follow her uncle, seasoned corporator Ashraf Azmi, and her father Ashrad Azmi, a Congress office bearer. Having studied polity while preparing for civil services exams, Azmi worked as an RMO during the pandemic. "I intend to improve existing hospitals and strive for another civic hospital in Kurla," she declared.
Educated Professionals Entering Public Service
Endodontist Dr. Aditi Khursange from Ward 11 always wanted to get into public service. "Educated people should come into the system to change it," she asserted. "Besides, young people come with fresh ideas and some complicated problems have simple solutions." Khursange previously worked at Aapla Davakhana, giving her firsthand experience in community health.
Haider Ali Shaikh from Ward 34, son of MLA Aslam Shaikh, brings eight years of social work experience. "I have been working with BMC departments such as SWD and SWM and kind of know how the system functions," said Shaikh, a BMS graduate. "When I expressed interest, my dad asked me to go through the process of the party."
This new wave of young corporators represents a blend of political lineage and professional expertise. Their entry into the BMC signals a potential shift towards more dynamic and responsive civic governance in Mumbai. The city watches with interest as these Gen Z leaders take on their roles, aiming to bridge gaps in civic services and inject innovation into the administration.
