This story is from September 22, 2019

A Manifesto for Mumbai begins to take shape

In the run-up to the polls, citizens, people’s forums and NGOs have overwhelmingly responded to TOI’s call to frame a Manifesto for Mumbai to echo the city’s aspirations and concerns. Over 100 entries have already come in. The best ones will now be collated to create a charter, following which parties will be urged to endorse it, fully or in part, in their campaign.
A Manifesto for Mumbai begins to take shape
Aerial view of Mumbai
In the run-up to the polls, citizens, people’s forums and NGOs have overwhelmingly responded to TOI’s call to frame a Manifesto for Mumbai to echo the city’s aspirations and concerns. Over 100 entries have already come in. The best ones will now be collated to create a charter, following which parties will be urged to endorse it, fully or in part, in their campaign.
Meanwhile , here’s a peek into the expectations from the next regime.
Issues raised by citizens range from necessities of civic life to add-ons which enhance standards of living to other concerns like big infra and its impact on ecology.
Mumbai wants playgrounds, pavements free of encroachments, designated hawking zones, stiff penalties for civic offences. It seeks dedicated bus lanes, 24x7 entertainment zones, and stricter rules for builders. It wants drain covers, fences along rail tracks to curb stone pelting, affordable quality education and healthcare for the poor, and decision-making powers for citizen forums. Mumbai would also appreciate it if architects were roped in to design utilities like bridges to improve their aesthetics, and instead of chopping trees, if defunct mills or unused port land is used for infra works like Metro rail.
Some ideas are radical. Bandra resident Melwyn V Pais suggests that the mayor and ward officers should be directly accountable. “We need them to be directly elected by the people, and fully empowered. We also do not want remotely-controlled civic chiefs.” Others seek a modicum of responsibility from citizenry. “People cross the road even when the signal for traffic is green. They wade through cars. This should not occur, if only to avoid accidents,” says Bandra resident Sudha Wariar. “Jaywalking must be an offence, should draw a penalty as deterrence.”
One smart idea is from Mahim resident Ashok Datar. “I want Mumbai to use advanced accounting practices (to record transactions, report operating data every month or quarter) for accurate figures on levies.”
Once the Manifesto is out, TOI will highlight solutions that parties and their representatives may put forward so that you, the voter, can make an informed choice.
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