Cooperator and You
By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Muinbai, April 17: The BJP held a meeting with several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of Mumbai to discuss civic , issues that affect day-today life of Mumbaikars on Tuesday. The meeting was chaired by corporator from the western suburb, Mr Ashish Shelar and Ms Shaina N.C. from the cultural and heritage cell of the BJP.
The participants of the meeting objected to the difference in the area and the population of the wards in Mumbai, as Malad is the biggest ward and the island city has the smallest ward. They wanted the BMC to reorganise the wards in such a way that each ward of Mumbai has the same size.
NGOs like Sharddha and Spastics, who work for the mentally disabled students, asked the BMC to aid the disabled with the disable friendly public toilets, footpaths, bus stops, etc.
Suggestions to make telephone number 1916 of the BMC, toll tree was well received by Mr Shelar:
The NGOs suggested that the government should involve the citizens while preparing the budget for the sake of transparency. Mr Shelar said, “The budget of the civic body; that is yet to come out, will be only for the first three months of the year, while the general budget will come out in July.” Another point that the NGOs cited was that the BMC was not providing space for their organisations inside the civic schools, as a result the NGOs find it difficult to operate Objecting to the redevelopment of municipal markets, Ms Naina Kathpalia from Citispace said, “The policy of redevelopment of the municipal markets, will prove to be expensive for the middle class and lowermiddle class people of Mumbai.”
NGOs also voiced their concern regarding the rising level of corruption in the BMC, to which Mr Shelar said, “This one meeting cannot solve the problem of corruption”.
Publication : Asian Age; Date : 18/4/07
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