MUMBAI: Hundreds of Mumbaikars will march along the Mithi River on October 2 to demand, among others, a mayor for Mumbai who will be directly elected by the people and who will be responsible for the citizens' welfare.

At a press conference on Tuesday, over 35 NGOs, who have come together under the banner Protest Against Non Governance in Society (PANGS), announced a peaceful march along the Mithi River, which is the centre of so much debate after the floods, up to the collector's office in support of various demands including the one for a directly elected mayor.

B.G. Deshmukh, former Union Cabinet Secretary, who is part of this effort, told the press that unless the citizens of Mumbai realise that they have to help themselves, no one would help them. He called for a mass movement in which people should come out and protest against government inaction and demand accountability. A set of demands will be handed over to the collector as well as to the Chief Minister. In response to questions, Mr. Deshmukh, also a former municipal commissioner, said that there would be changes necessitated in the law to enable Mumbai to directly elect a mayor and this demand would be placed before the Chief Minister for consideration.

"It was Mahatma Gandhi who started a mass movement that finally led to our Independence and it is fitting that this march should be on his birth anniversary," said Mr. Deshmukh. Many representatives of citizens groups in Mumbai spoke up about the need to fix responsibility and demand a status report from the Chief Minister on the aftermath of the floods.

Citizens on October 2 should all wear black badges in support of the march, said Dilip Kumar, an activist from Bandra.

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