MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s new gender gap puts the fairer sex in front of men. At least that is what the trio of Chandra Ingale, Bhagyashree Kapse and Sangita Narayane, appointed as the first batch of women ward officers in the history of the country’s richest municipal corporation, believe. Before this, Kunda Kadam was the first and only woman appointed as ward officer on July 2, 1971.

The BMC has issued appointment letters to the batch after it cleared the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) entrance examination in 2009. The commission, which reserved 30% seats for women for the year, has made attractive as well as easier for women candidates to opt for the post.

The three, who’ll now embark on a short training programme, are confident of giving a “gentle touch” to civic issues and problems, especially at a time when the corporation is reeling under its worst water and financial crises.

“The three-month training will help them learn the ropes of the challenging job. It will make them mentally tough,” said deputy municipal commissioner (general administration), R Vale.

The new appointment may also bridge the socially defined differences between men and women, especially within the conventional civic corridors, BMC officials said.

“Everyone believes women adapt better to situations and make better managers and leaders, apart from investing more wisely. All of that is fine, but what is important is how a woman approaches a problem and gets better at doing what men traditionally have been considered good at,” said Ingale, 37, who has given up her job of a district child development officer with the state government to take up the offer.

The new ward officers agree that a non-inclusive environment in government offices throws up unique challenges. To face it, the new recruits are ready to juggle work with responsibilities of a family and other pressures. Kapse, who has already worked as a ward officer in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), says the prospect of working in an organisation like BMC is not at all daunting.

“Much as we’d like it otherwise, we may not be able to spend more time with our loved ones while working in such a huge municipal corporation. But despite the challenges, my mental toughness will hold me in good stead,” said Kapse, who’s forte lies in demolition of unauthorised constructions.

Dr Sangita Narayane, who works as a gynaecologist in a civic health department, feel that women are more likely to lead organisations towards transformation. “Sometimes men don’t understand that it is not about black or white and right or wrong. The problems most of the time are about human beings. As a doctor, I’d look at healing the issue rather than providing a solution for the time being.”