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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