NGO report shows civic machinery is failing citizens, who’re struggling to get issues addressed
Going by the rise in the number of civic complaints Mumbaikars logged last year, and the inexcusably tardy resolution of these complaints by the civic authorities, if one was ever reached, the city council is failing the citizens it was elected to represent. This is the core of the findings by city-based Praja Foundation, which released its report on citizen issues.
The report, which is based on the Right To Information (RTI) responses given by the civic body, states that the number of civic complaints rose 49 per cent, from 61,9101 in 2015 to 92,329 in 2017. On an average, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation took an average of 48 days to close a complaint in 2017.
According to the report, S ward (Bhandup), R/C ward (Borivali) and A ward (Colaba) took an average of 93, 89, and 86 days respectively to close a complaint in 2017.
Despite the abundance of problems the citizens face, 38 municipal councillors in the BMC did not ask a single question in ward committee meetings between March 2017 and December 2017. Of these, 11 were re-elected; they had served a term between March 2012 to December 2016.
"These dismal numbers are disheartening, and the civic body should make a concerted effort to correct this disparity. The data shows that the deliberative wing is failing in its duty," said Milind Mhaske, project director at Praja Foundation.
The report also states that as of December 31, 2017, there was a massive gap — of 64 per cent — between the number of male and female seats in public toilets in the city. Marine Lines (C ward), which has a large migratory population, showed the largest disparity at 85 per cent.
"To the citizen, an effective response to their complaints matters the most. Looking at the data, we see a total lack of concern for citizens and their issues," said Nitai Mehta, founder and managing trustee of the foundation.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Toilet")
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}