The Hindu : National : `Vote Mumbai' campaign for directly elected Mayor

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Thursday, Jun 29, 2006

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`Vote Mumbai' campaign for directly elected Mayor

A Correspondent

Need for ombudsman to redress grievances

MUMBAI: Over 30 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) launched a campaign here on Wednesday under the banner of `Vote Mumbai: Time to Set it Right.' It was aimed to increase the powers and accountability of municipal governance.

Lok Satta, a national organisation committed to reforming governance in India, is spearheading the `Vote Mumbai' campaign.

Among their several demands, the participants called for a directly elected Mayor who would serve as the chief executive officer, a central planning agency for the metropolitan and an ombudsman to redress grievances lodged against municipal authorities.

With all authority of bodies like the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority and the Airports Authority of India being vested in State and Central agencies, they are not accountable to the Municipal Corporation, said Anant Shende, co-ordinator of the Maharashtra chapter of Lok Satta.

A brochure circulated during the campaign claimed that as Municipal Commissioners were appointed by the State, the Mayor was only a figurehead.

"We're all sitting on a time bomb. By 2020, Mumbai is expected to have a population of 2.4 crore," Mr. Shende warned. The group would convey their ideas on Mumbai's governance to legislators by October, so that it could be taken up for discussion during the November-December Assembly session, Mr. Shende added.

"This [movement] is about Mumbaikars reclaiming their sovereignty and republic," Jayaprakash Narayan, national co-ordinator of Lok Satta said.

The `Vote Mumbai' campaign also suggested forming a ward committee, headed by a corporator, at the level of each municipal ward. The committee should have the power to collect taxes and disburse funds.

It also called for a `citizens' charter.' Visit the group's website at www.votemumbai.org.

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