World Environment Day Special

World Environment Day Special
By Asha World Environment Day is ‘just another’ day for most of us। But for some, the significance of this dedicated day is a reason to take the environment seriously and work towards making it cleaner and healthier। One such initiative taken by 91।00 FM with the culminated efforts by AGNI (Action for Good Governance and Networking in India)

K-East Ward and Sanjeevini Trust (Chimat pada) to clean the 11th Road, MIDC, Andheri (E) on the eve of World Environment Day was a huge success.

The cleaning drive taken up on the 4th of June 2006 has left the 11th Road, MIDC, Andheri (E), a lot more clean and environment friendly. The drive initiated by 91.00 FM had no particular area in mind. AGNI (K-East Ward) chose the MIDC area, not randomly, but with a reason. This 11th Road, MIDC is one of the most crowded and busy areas as it houses not only residents, but also a school (Maruti School) and a home for Women in Distress called ‘Shanti Ghar’. The existence of garbage dumps and dirty drains led to a stench and had made commuting very inconvenient, leaving apart the high probability of sickness. Considering the increasing population and the proportionally increasing unhygienic condition, AGNI (K-East Ward) zeroed onto this area.

AGNI (K-East Ward) had to follow procedures by taking permissions from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the MIDC police station, before going ahead with the cleaning drive. Once the permission was sought, the next step was to gather volunteers for this drive. People from AGNI (K-East Ward) and Sanjeevini Trust (Chimat Pada) volunteered for this work, thereby bringing the total number of volunteers to 45. The sight before starting work, seemed like an insurmountable task, but the volunteers put their heart and soul into cleaning this area and making it look altogether different after three hours of continuous work. The basic amenities were taken care of by BMC, which provided the volunteers with brooms, cranes to pick up the garbage and also garbage trucks in order to ease transportation. Huge plastic garbage bins supplied by Neel Kamal were utilized to the fullest, by the volunteers. It was an activity which involved cleaning drains clogged with muck, garbage and roads littered with trash. Although, the surrounding lingered with the unpleasant smell of the garbage, there was an air of enthusiasm amongst the volunteers. Sporting their T-shirts sponsored by Lifebuoy, the volunteers worked as a team on a mission. And while this hard work continued, the MIDC police made sure, they were provided full protection, in order to not disrupt their functioning.

Such cleaning drives are not new to the volunteers of AGNI (K - East Ward), who take up this exercise regularly in different areas. They voluntarily clean up the orthopedic ward of Cooper hospital on the third Sunday of every month. They have been doing this since 14 months now. This cleaning drive is just an added feather to their cap.



This voluntary activity witnessed involvement of people from all age groups ranging from 25 - 70. But the paradoxical part was that none of the residents of 11th Road; MIDC participated in this drive, while all the non residents volunteered to clean up the area. An act, which should have been taken up sincerely and whole heartedly by all the residents, was carried out by a few concerned citizens, who cannot see their city going down the drains. This cleaning drive undertaken on the occasion of World Environment Day is an example of how some people want to bring about a change, but the rest are just indifferent.

The phrase ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’ is these days restricted and applicable only to one’s house and not extended to one’s surroundings. But organisations like AGNI (K-East Ward) and Sanjeevini Trust (Chimat Pada) have taken it upon them to prove it otherwise and are determined to make a better society with a cleaner environment.

राईट तो इन्फोर्मेशन एफ्फेक्ट

Right To Information EFFECT

In all societies, there is a conscious effort to give some advantage to those with financial, historical or physical disabilities. Even people who do not really subscribe to this view, make an attempt to be politically correct and practice their discrimination without leaving a paper trail of any overt discrimination against the disadvantaged or dispossessed.

One would be skeptical about his story that that though he was selected without any concession being made for his disability, the powers that be were willing to throw all fairness and decency to the wind & this in an ‘educational’ institution,- the N.G.Acharya & D.K.Marathe College of Arts and Science.

Shri Chandrakant Sasane a young man of 31 belongs to the scheduled caste and is blind. He has done his M.A. in Social Work. Using Right To Information, He asked for documentary evidence from the College as well as the University, which would prove that though he was selected by the University without any concession being given for his physical disability, the college had been insensitive and brazen enough to refuse to appoint him to teach the ‘philosophy foundation course’!

The college has not replied, and one will have to take recourse to the penal provisions of RTI to teach them how to become law abiding. The information given by the Bombay University is devastating. A selection Committee,- where seven of the eight members were present and have signed on 14 September, 2004, unanimously selected Shri Chandrakant Sasane for appointment as lecturer to teach Foundation Course in Philosophy. The post was reserved for SC/ST and six candidates had been interviewed. The selection Committee also included the Principal and the Head of Department of the college. On 16 September, 2005 the University sent the recommendation to the college to appoint him.

The college did not issue the letter of appointment to Shri Sasane, for reasons we have to guess. Without assigning any reasons for this, the college asked the University for permission to again advertise for the post on 19 April, 2005. On 11, July, 2005 the University refused permission to the college to advertise for this post, since they had not appointed Shri Sasane! It is unbelievable that a blind person would be treated so callously and a clear paper evidence is available.

The elite of Mumbai laugh at Bihar; this is the story of a blind young man waiting for a job for about seventeen months now, in Chembur, Mumbai for which he was selected with no concession for his disability!

This evidence now brought to Public notice will hopefully get Mr. Sasane his job.
Right To Information will continue to expose misdeeds and common Citizens everywhere will seek continue to seek accountability.
He stays at – Lokmanya Nagar, Pada no.4, Near Santoshi Mata Temple, Thane 400606.

Mera Bharat Mahaan..Nahi Hai,Per Yeh Dosh Mera Hai.

टीम फॉर लोकल गोवेर्नांस

Time for Local Governance
India is a 59-year-old Republic of the people, by the people, but for whom? Why do we Indians feel powerless and hopeless in this great Republic? If India could win back freedom after 300 years of foreign rule, can we not bring about a change in the present form of governance which is less than 6 decades old? Does our duty as citizens end once we caste our vote or pay our taxes?
The major problem of our country as we know, are the politicians themselves, who interfere in almost all matters concerning the executive as well as judiciary. Often they shame the administrative decisions and over-rule court orders. Letting the government decide without our participation in matters concerning us has left politicians with absolute powers - opens to corruption.
Given the existing Indian polity, during elections citizens are limited to exercising their franchise in favor of a candidate in whose selection they have no control or role to play. Persons with intellect, integrity and commitment to public service are either denied or prevented from contesting in the present political arena. Invariably, we end up with no choice, but to vote for the best candidate from among the WORST.
What is the solution to effect a change in the present system one may ask? Well, change demands better elected representatives, which in turn requires good candidature/nomination for election in the first place.
This can possibly happen in two ways. The first is to put up citizens' candidate for election. The citizens' candidate could emerge from a consensus between various like minded organizations in a Corporator constituency. This candidate can be selected/nominated on merit, thus supported and promoted by the local NGOs/ALMs/Societies, etc. as Citizens' Consensus Candidate.
The second is through formation of Ward Committees or 'bhaghidari' (partnership) system for effective form of governance. A Ward Committee besides having an elected Councillor, will consist of number of elected representatives from ALMs, LACC and/or other active neighborhood groups.
All politics and governance become functional at a local level. Therefore, its time for concerned citizens and groups to start preparing for the Municipal Corporator Elections early next year. Jai Hind.
Adolf D'Souza
AGNI Coordinator
K West Ward

थे ट्रेजेडी ऑफ़ लाइफ इस नॉट डेथ

The tragedy of life is not death

The tragedy of life is not death , but what we let die inside of us while we live.
“ Son , when you were born , you cried while the whole world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you die the world cries while you rejoice” this was said by my mother.
We live in an age when we have forgotten what life is all about. We can easily put a person on the Moon , fire a missile across the world but we have lost touch with our humanity & we have also lost touch with what is our purpose of life.
My answer always begins the same way , find your calling. I believe we all have special talents that is just waiting to be tapped for a worthy pursuit. We all are here for some unique purpose , some noble objective that will allow us to manifest our highest human potential while we , at the same time , add value to the lives around us.
Finding your calling does not mean you must leave the job you now have , it simply means you need to bring more of yourself into your work & focus on the things you do best
It simply means you have to stop waiting for other people to make the changes you desire.
Mahatma Gandhi once noted “ be the change that you wish to see most in your world “
Once you do , your life will change , DO LET US KNOW.

लोकल एरिया सितिजें कोमित्ते (लचक)

Local Area Citizen Committee ( LACC )
BMC Initiative to come closer to the citizens.

Formation of Local Area Citizen Committees ( LACC ) ensures citizens participation through the involvement of Community based organization ( CBOs ) & NGOs in improving the delivery of civic services & improving the urban environment has been encouraged by the BMC through various mechanisms & schemes such as Advanced Locality Management ( ALM ) , Dattak Vasti Yojana , Online Complaint Management System ( OCMS ) , adoption of footpaths , playgrounds , gardens & also through construction , operation & maintenance of toilets.

Under the ALM setup local citizens groups can interact with the BMC officials once in a month at the ward office level. The meetings are chaired by Ward Officer & is attended by all the HODs of the ward.

In order to ensure delivery & proper monitoring of quality civic services with the full participation of community it has been found necessary to further decentralize the monitoring mechanism.

Based on the feed back about the urgent need to strengthen citizens participation with greater involvement of elected representatives & voluntary citizens groups in the improvement of the urban environment & delivery of civic services at the local level it has now been decided to create a decentralized mechanism for regular interaction between voluntary citizen groups representing a beat of 3 to 5 roads , elected councilors & municipal officials for achieving timely & efficient delivery of municipal services & bringing about a better physical environment at the local level by creating awareness among citizens about their civic rights & responsibilities.

LACC will be formed at the level of each Councilor ward to deal with the following subjects ,

a. Cleanliness & Garbage Collection.
b. Water Supply & Sanitation.
c. Regulation of hawking.
d. Safety of pedestrians & parking of vehicles.
e. Maintenance of roads , footpaths , storm water drains ( SWD ) including installation & maintenance of street furniture & bus stops & proper regulation of digging & re instatement of trenches excavated by utilities.
f. Roadside plantation & public gardens.
g. Disaster Management.
h. Any other matter relating to public safety , public health & public amenities as decided by the Committee.

The Committee will consist of the following ,

a. Ward Officer.
b. Municipal Councillor of the Ward.
c. Jr. Engg. ( Maintenance )
d. Jr. Engg. ( Water Works )
e. Jr. Overseer of Solid Waste Management ( SWM )
f. Jr. Overseer of Pest Control Office.
g. Representatives of Voluntary ALM of the areas selected by the Ward Officer for each beat in the Councillor Ward.
h. Voluntary Area Representative ( VAR )

The Ward Officer will act as the Convener of the Committee.

VAR will be selected by the Ward Officer of the ward for every beat consisting of a cluster of building on 3 to 5 roads. In each councilor ward there will be around 8 to 12 beats & each beat will be represented by a VAR. The Ward Officer will select VARs for beats other than those already represented by existing ALM groups based on the past record of their activities & their capacity & willingness to work with BMC to create awareness among citizens about their civic responsibilities & facilitate cooperation between citizen & civic officials in respect of the matters included within purview of the LACC.

Meetings of the LACC will be held at pre selected Municipal School buildings on alternate Saturdays & will be attended by the Ward Officer or his representative who is not below the rank of Assistant Engineer. The Ward Officer shall attend the meeting of every LACC at least once in a month & he may invite the officer in charge of the local police station , the traffic police & concerned officers of the BEST & other public & private utility services to attend meetings of the LACC to deal with issues concerning them whenever required.

Junior Engineer or Junior Overseer who is a member of the LACC will be made responsible by the Ward Officer to write the minutes of the meeting & submit the same to Ward Officer & to circulate to all the concerned departments / agencies for taking necessary action. He will also prepare action taken reports for the committees after obtaining reports from all concerned. The Municipal Commissioner will review the formation of the LACC & their functioning every month.

By Ashok Pai