Women have taken charge of all key roles in the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC), showcasing their leadership abilities. On Tuesday, Shubha B assumed the role of commissioner, filling the vacancy left by Ashok Dudagunti’s transfer. After stepping into her new position, Shubha moved swiftly to enhance tax collection efforts and enforce the use of Kannada on signboards.
In addition to Shubha, Savita Kamble has been serving as the BCC mayor since February 2024, having previously worked as a pourakarmika. During the last term, women held both the mayor and deputy mayor positions. The list of female leaders continues with Reshma Talikoti, who resumed her duties as deputy commissioner (revenue) after a transfer prior to the Lok Sabha elections. Laxmi Nippanikar has also held the position of deputy commissioner (administration) for the past four years, returning to her role after a brief transfer in January.
The revenue department of BCC boasts a significant representation of women, with three out of eight office manager positions filled by women: RS Neelannavar, Anjana Bhajantri, and MT Ballary. Additionally, Anuradha Tapasi serves as an assistant revenue officer. This marks the first time women have occupied all key posts within the BCC. Nippanikar remarked to reporters, “Maybe it’s a coincidence. However, women are proving their mettle in most sectors, and the bureaucracy is one of them. I feel the line between women and men is gradually blurring in the workplace.”
