You are now the mayor of the city. Your journey must have been phenomenal…

I had never thought that one day I would occupy this prestigious chair. Whenever I think of it, tears of joy roll down my cheeks. I thank God for this achievement and pray that I will be able to do something good for the city. Earlier, I used to focus on issues relating to my ward only. Now, I have to look after the interest of the entire city (totalling some 59 wards). 

Your husband is a small time businessman, a tent house owner and deals with supply of various products. There must be conflict of interests. You must be facing a lot of problems after your elevation to the post of mayor...

Why should I face any problem because of him? He is doing his business and I am doing my duties. He knows what to do and what not to. Before becoming the mayor, I used to depend on him for my sustenance and livelihood. In politics, most of the things are temporary in nature. After this post goes, I will continue to depend on him.

When a woman steps into politics, she invites all sorts of criticism, including unpleasant remarks from different quarters. Did it happen to you ever?

Yes, I admit of this gender bias. As this is a male-dominated society, women often get unpleasant comments. Particularly, these things happen in the first phase of one's career. But, one should move ahead and concentrate on her work without paying much attention to these things. It will automatically disappear and pave the way for one's success. Women are now more competent and they have proven themselves.

Your predecessor Anita Behera had to resign because of the controversy relating to distribution of ration cards.  Her name was found in the list of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act.  How is the system going on now?

When the ration card system was introduced, people had almost no knowledge of the riders attached to it.  Earlier, there were no major criteria. People used to apply for ration cards and get it. They had no idea that it would create problem for them. Later, on seeing the number of applicants going up over the years, the government has put some nine riders so that only the poor and genuine people get the benefit of the scheme. We are taking steps in this direction and are trying to remove the problems in its implementation. But there are many councillors who are poor and they deserve ration cards.

Your predecessor had to resign even from the councillor’s post. Don’t you think that it was a wrong move by the party leadership to take such a drastic step?

Certainly. I will do this at the I will not comment.  We have to abide by the decision of the party.

Despite lots of money being pumped in, various problems of Cuttack city are yet to be addressed. Drainage and sewerage problems continue to remain major issues... 

If you look at the city's map, Cuttack looks like a frying pan. It has its own geographical limitations. All the rainwater come from various points to the centre point of the city and make the drainage system suffer. We are finding it hard to evacuate water from the city to the rivers through various pumping centres. Over the years, the city has expanded without planning and we are paying the price for it. There is drainage problem that cannot be solved overnight. We are trying to improve the situation with the funding of Japan International Co-operation Agency (Jica).
 
Question marks have been raised over the Jica project itself. People have pointed out many loopholes…

Under the Jica project, there has been provisions that the implementing agency should involve people at the ground level, particularly local representatives and intellectuals, before designing any drain. But in many cases, we have found that they don't involve local people and do the planning on their own. On many occasions, such decisions create problems. Even the implementation of the project is getting delayed. 

Safe drinking water is another problem… 

We have taken up projects under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) scheme. As the groundwater level of the Cuttack city has depleted, efforts are being made to bring water from the Mahanadi and to subsequently give it to people.

Bhubaneswar has already been declared a Smarty City and Rourkela is competing to get the tag in the next phase. But no steps have been taken to make Cuttack a smart city yet. What's your view?

Cuttack is a very old city. There has been no planned growth here over the years. It has so many lanes, bylanes and slums. When you go for constructing a new drain, you have to look into so many things. Many roadside buildings, which are more than 100-years-old, may also collapse anytime. A proper design and its implementation are required. To get the Smart City tag, we have initiated steps such as improving the conditions of roads, sanitation and street lighting. But all these things cannot be done overnight. Besides, the city can be a Smart City only if the people become aware about their environment and take steps accordingly to make the city clean. No administration alone can help it. 

Vigilance had raided the office of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation and houses of 29 councillors for alleged misappropriation of relief materials meant for Phailin victims in 2013. What is the progress of the case? Is the civic body free of corruption at this moment? 

I cannot comment on the vigilance probe. But we are trying to maintain transparency and integrity in our work. 

Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has built a number of concrete houses for the slum-dwellers. But we have not seen any such project in Cuttack…

We have identified 264 slums and are preparing a long-term plan to provide the dwellers with concrete houses. In the first phase, we have provided 50 concrete houses to slum dwellers. We also have plans to construct transit houses 
particularly for those migrant labourers who are coming to Cuttack for work. They can take our houses on rent and can go back after completion of their work.

What is the annual budget of the CMC? 

I have no idea…

So, where you will get the money to carry out various development works? 

We will generate revenue by creating more number of vending zones, kalyan mandaps (marriage venues) and (fumbles) ...

You have little administrative experience. We have seen many public representatives are dragged into various problems as they completely depend on officers surrounding them. What about you?

I seek the advice and co-operation of officials, but I also apply my mind before taking a decision. I hope that the staff will not drag me into any problem.

Some say that the horses (bureaucrats) are more powerful than the riders (ministers and peoples' representatives) in the Naveen Patnaik system of administration. What about the CMC?

I hope I can ride the horse well without any difficulty. Here the horses are co-operating with me.

Cuttack city is represented by three powerful MLAs. They must be doing all sorts of politics to make your job difficult…

Politics is there everywhere. You cannot escape from it. But the city MLAs are not intervening in civic affairs. They belong to the city and represent the people. They suggest for improvement of the city and I have no problem in accepting their suggestions. All of us are united to make the city beautiful.

Have you ever got a chance to meet your party president?

Yes. After I was elected the mayor, I had gone to Naveen Nivas to express my gratitude to him. He was happy to see me and told me: “Achha Kam Karo and Janata Ka Bhala Karo (Do good works and do good for the people)”.

What would you have been had you not joined the politics?

I would have continued as a homemaker. I had never thought that I would step into this field. I was inspired by the social service of my father's elder brother. He was a member of the Khan Nagar Puja Committee and used to do social service. It had its impact on me.