Last week, our community rallied against the inappropriate naming of a Public Cancer Hospital in Baner after the non-entity father of BJP Corporator Shrinath Bhimale. Thanks to our appeal, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis intervened, and the rightful action of removing the unauthorized name was taken. This victory, however, sheds light on a larger, more systemic problem: the rampant misuse of naming public spaces like parks, schools, hospitals, bridges, and flyovers by corporators of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

In the year 2000, corporators themselves passed a Government Resolution (GR) which rightly determined that only the names of national leaders or eminent environmentalists should grace public spaces. This was a visionary step to honor individuals who have truly contributed to the nation or environmental causes. Yet, despite this progressive resolution, over 400 boards have been erected, bearing the names of various individuals – predominantly family members and relatives of these corporators – who are non-entities and have not contributed significantly to society.

Recently, corporators have even gone a step further by overturning the 2000 GR, opening the floodgates for more personal glorification at the expense of taxpayers’ owned spaces. This blatant flouting of the original GR not only disrespects the spirit of honoring genuine contributors but also leads to a dilution of the significance attached to these public spaces.

We cannot allow this practice to continue unchecked. A well-named public space serves as a daily reminder of our history and values, teaching future generations about heroes and pioneers who have shaped our world. By naming these spaces after non-entities, we lose valuable opportunities for teaching and inspiring our community.

It is crucial to restore the sanctity of the original GR. We also urge  Naval Kishore Ram, Municipal Commissioner of Pune, to reinstate the 2000 resolution, ensuring that only deserving individuals are honored. Furthermore, we request an immediate review of all existing public space names and the removal of those that do not comply with the GR.

Let us preserve the integrity of our public spaces and honor the people who have truly made a difference. Sign this petition to hold the PMC accountable and secure a future where public spaces reflect our shared cultural and historical values.