Civic NGOs to play bigger role in BMC polls

Shalini Nair I TNN

Mumbai: In the run-up to the BMC elections, political parties are realising that citizens groups can no longer be ignored in post-26/7 Mumbai. From looking at civic NGOs as little more than fringe groups, political parties are waking up to the fact that they could swing the middle-class vote.

This year political parties have taken the first step to get active groups on their side as well as get a better idea of the city’s pulse through them. Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) chief Gurudas Kamat has written to civic NGOs seeking their views on what should be included in the party manifesto. Interestingly, just a year and a half ago on the very floor of the BMC House, Kavita Rodricks, Congress corporator from Bandra—which has the most active citizens group—criticised the ‘interferences by ALMs (Advanced Locality Management) and citizens’ groups in local affairs.
“We have found that even the smallest NGOs have done phenomenal work in the civic arena. If politicians work in tandem with such groups then the reach is far stronger,’’ said Shaina NC, secretary of the BJP in Mumbai. The BJP has written to thousands of ALMs and NGOs for their suggestions, besides holding a meeting with many of them on Thursday.

Citizens groups, on their part, are also getting more involved in the political process which they largely avoided in the past and they are now running a parallel campaign to help voters make a more informed choice. “Post July 26, people have realised that 75% of their daily life is controlled by the BMC. The only way to change their quality of life will be by voting for the right person at the local level,’’ says Vinay Somani, convener of the NGO Council, a common platform for around 85 NGOs in Mumbai. The council has drawn up a list of 11 points that parties should keep in mind while nominating candidates.
The NGO Loksatta has zeroed in on ward no 63 at Juhu from among the 227 wards in order to create a model ward for good governance. Active citizens from the ward have nominated a consensus candidate who will fight the political candidates during the elections.

The ADR (Association for Democratic Reforms) which has conducted an election watch in 19 states for the assembly and parliament elections along with AGNI (Action for Good Governance and Networking in India) will give star ratings to candidates in 50 select wards. And not all will end their role with elections. The autonomous research organisation, All India Institute of Local Self Government (AIILSG), will train elected corporators on their role as policy-makers in the BMC.

CITIZENS’ WISHLIST
As part of its pre-election campaign, senior BJP leaders met citizens’ groups and ALMs on Thursday. Here’s a list of what citizens expect from their elected representatives:

Clean candidates with a good record of public service.

Corporators should force the BMC to repeal the caretaker policy whereby 162 acres of open spaces will be given away to private parties.

Help preserve natural resources like mangroves, beaches, open spaces, ponds and rivers.

Transparency in all construction proposals and cleaning up the building proposals department. No interferences from the Urban Development Department when it comes to illegal structures.

Better traffic management. Engineering solutions like flyovers, sealinks, underground parking are not sustainable. Support restrain measures like increasing parking rates, limiting number of cars even if it may not be popular.

Humane rehabilitation of slum dwellers.

Enhancing infrastructure. Also make infrastructure and transport more disabled-friendly.

Ensure that all civic schools provide quality education until Std X. Conduct more health camps and better treatment for HIV patients at civic hospitals.

Corporators must work in coordination with local committees and take them into account before spending their fund of Rs 25 lakh.