Rais Shaikh

Shaikh[6] has worked 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 to serve the growing needs of parents in the area who wanted 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 of two crores and seventy-five lacs to renovate the Mukti Fauj Dawakhana (Salvation Army Dispensary), one of the oldest dispensaries in the city. [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 being paid a 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 spoke to the girls and the women in these areas. Several men were arrested because of the testimonies by these women. Rais has demanded for the formation of a monitoring committee for the police budget.[21]

In May 2019, Shaikh was able to help several families who were living in slums to apply for housing aid from the government. The families  were issued with allotment letters and given flats in different areas.[22]

Rais Shaikh strongly criticized 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 after the incident was a glaring example of the incompetence of the government. [23]

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 opposed this and said it was unreasonable and highly discriminatory against one religion. The circular was amended and the revised version which was published stated that dead bodies can be buried in crematoriums.[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]