Want better civic amenities in Mumbai? Don’t complain, volunteer to monitor work, says NGO

Times of India: Mumbai: Tuesday, 11 November 2014.

Upset about the poor civic amenities though BMC has an annual budget of over Rs 30,000? Instead of complaining, volunteer to audit BMC services, suggested NGO Mahiti Adhikar Manch.

Social audit involves actively monitoring civic work before funds are spent and ensuring they meet set standards.

"We got an entire pavement re-paved in F-North ward. A former civic solid waste management official told us that if Mumbaikars want cleanliness, they should audit the Rs 800 crore being spent annually on waste management. Audits bring in transparency and accountability," said Bhaskar Prabhu, an RTI activist who is training residents on how to audit a ward.

The NGO wants to form social audit local teams, comprising four volunteers each, in all 227 corporator wards each ward covers about 2.5 sqkm.

AGNI member Shyama Kulkarni said St Andrew's Road, Perry Road, Mount Mary Road and Pali Hill in Bandra (W) are examples of social audit. "Senior citizens took turns, even at night, to inspect road work. The roads are in very good condition thanks to their vigilance," Kulkarni said.

The experiment has been initiated in F-North, which includes Matunga, Sion and Dharavi; F-South ward, which includes Parel, Sewri, Naigaum; and was launched in M east and west wards covering Deonar, Anushakti Nagar, Govandi, Mankhurd, Chembur and Tilak Nagar on Sunday.

The NGO will train volunteers on how to seek information through RTI and inspect roads, drains and gardens. "Volunteers can either check the work on their own or join the ward officer on his inspection rounds," said Prabhu.

He said trained volunteers have begun social audits of playgrounds and recreational grounds in F-South ward and traffic islands, whose maintenance was outsourced last year. "We will also do audits of the housekeeping at civic schools, which too is outsourced," he added. The findings will be publicized through Jan Sunvai or through the media.

Meanwhile, AGNI has called a meeting of all six city MPs on November 16 to articulate their vision for Mumbai and how they plan to make it a world-class city.