Elections, the group said, were reduced to a “mockery of democracy”, eroding citizens’ constitutional right to vote and pushing women’s real civic concerns to the margins through short-term inducements and tokenistic outreach.“The manifesto calls for clean and democratic elections. It also stresses the need for accountable representatives and structural electoral reforms, such as the introduction of proportional representation, state-funded elections and a review of the anti-defection law,” representative Suniti SR told TOI.The Sampark Samiti has appealed to women voters to resist pressure and incentives and to support candidates with integrity and a proven commitment to public welfare.Other demands in the manifesto includeassured water security with a minimum 21TMC water supply for Pune, along with free and timely water delivery in areas facing chronic shortages.It also called for the expansion of drainage networks and sewage treatment plants, alongside strict monitoring and control of water and air pollution.Public transport features prominently in the manifesto,with demands for a major expansion of bus services to at least 30 buses per lakh population, rollback of recent fare hikes, and safer, well-lit bus stops equipped with CCTV cameras. The manifesto also sought firm action against traffic congestion and encroachments on roads and footpaths.In the social sector, the charter calls for universal access to education, clean and safe toilets in all schools, and a stronger public healthcare system. It opposed the expansion of public-private partnership (PPP) models in healthcare, instead seeking a doubling of civic health budgets, expansion of Mohalla Clinics and strengthening of municipal hospitals.The manifesto further highlights the need for empowering urban poor schemes, 100% door-to-door waste segregation, childcare centres at settlement level, and strict enforcement of labour laws, including the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, for women workers. Environmental protection is another key focus, with demands for safeguarding rivers and hills, cancelling environmentally destructive projects and taking concrete steps towards a pollution-free city.The Sampark Samiti stated that the manifesto reflects women’s lived experiences in cities and would be used to hold candidates and elected representatives accountable beyond the election campaign.
