Dateline Mussoorie: Meera Saklani, Mussoorie’s first woman Chairperson was the special invitee at the maiden edition of Mussoorie Samvaad, organized by the Mussoorie Press Club today.
Addressing a packed gathering, Saklani — the BJP candidate who secured victory by more than six thousand votes to win the coveted Chairperson seat last year — took centre stage to discuss the challenges and responsibilities of leading the Queen of Hills.
As the first citizen of the town, the Chairperson shoulders the added responsibility of representing and hosting the many dignitaries who visit Mussoorie’s premier institutions like the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, the Institute of Technology Management, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Academy, its schools which date back to the 1850s — and ensure a steady flow of VIPs and VVIPs to the hill station throughout the year.
The hill station’s close proximity to the plains, along with excellent connectivity by road, rail, and air, makes it a preferred destination for domestic and international tourists alike, giving Mussoorie an edge over other popular hill stations such as Shimla and Nainital, but an issue that also adds to it woes.
Speaking candidly during the hour long interaction, Saklani acknowledged the challenges, “bringing about a change in the working ethos of the municipality has been an on-going challenge. I have been working relentlessly in this area and though strict actions has led to many unhappy faces, yet this is one area of improvement that I will not comprise upon,” she said.
Responding to questions from media personnel with conviction and honesty, the Chairperson highlighted several pressing civic issues concerning Mussoorie and its citizens. Questions ranged from cleanliness to traffic congestion, lack of health facilities, demarcation of municipal property, vendor free zone, dilapidated link roads and others. Saklani further stated that that the municipal board required the support and commitment of the town’s residents, noting that most routine issues could be resolved if locals stood by them.
Mussoorie Samvaad, an initiative by the Mussoorie Press Club, is conceived as a monthly interactive forum bringing together distinguished personalities from Mussoorie for engaging hour-long conversations with the local media. Through these sessions, the platform seeks to promote meaningful dialogue and provide insights into the work ethics, challenges, work ethic, and contribution towards Mussoorie’s development.
