Mayor strives for women's cause

KURNOOL: She used to be a burkha-clad woman from an orthodox family. Today, she is the mayor of Kurnool, fighting for the empowerment of women.
L Firoz Begum, who completed her BA from the Degree College for Women, Begumpet, Hyderabad, married small-time businessman L Roushan Basha of Kurnool in 1989.
She became the first woman mayor of Kurnool in 2000.Firoz claims that she is the first woman mayor in the country from the Muslim community. Firoz lived a veiled existence till she was pitted for the mayoral elections by Congress leaders. She campaigned in some parts of the city with the veil still on, and finally emerged into her own after she was elected the mayor. That was when her fight for the development of women in the municipal corporation limits began.
Women, particularly from the Muslim community, throng Firoz’s home and chamber in Kurnool Municipal Corporation everyday. She says women come to her since they think that a woman can solves their problems better. “And I should work according to their expectations.’’
Firoz has been at the forefront of creating awareness among women about government schemes and programmes. She is constantly in touch with bankers and has helped several women get loans. “I insist that the women be prompt in repayment, since repayment shows the development of women,’’ she said. The mayor has been instrumental in distributing loans to about 500 women under various government schemes in the last 20 months.
“After I became the mayor, even Muslim women are coming out and meeting officials to seek the benefit of various schemes. I have been insisting that they utilise the government programmes and subsidies,’’ Firoz Begum, daughter of a retired secretary in Law department, said. Firoz Begum says she responds to the needs of all women, irrespective of their political affiliations.