Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai or MCGM (BMC- earlier) is tasked with maintenance and repair of public properties and provision of civic services in Mumbai. My impression is: it has a huge, complicated and dirty responsibility- and manages reasonably well. There is scope for improvement on every front, but altogether they keep the city in working condition most of the times.
Most people in Vile Parle East who have interacted with the local ward office people in Gundavli have found the response within tolerable limits. Vile Parle East has a very significant number of 'active' citizens who visit the MCGM just to improve their surroundings- parks, open spaces, roads, healthcare, etc I should call them all 'Friends of MCGM'. F-MCGM are united by their positive attitude, perseverance and ability to 'get things done'. One such group helped to improve Sathe Udyan on Park Road about 6-7 years ago.
I think F-MCGM is a role many Parlekars can take up. A simple thing is to use the 'complaint system' more frequently. Through this we can be the 'eyes and ears' of MCGM. It works like this: as you go about your tasks daily, you may notice a pothole/ broken footpath/ overhanging dangerous tree branch...anything that needs attention. Log into http://www.mcgm.gov.in/; go to complaints section and inform MCGM about what you have seen. Save the complaint number and track its status. My experience is that mostly the MCGM takes cognizance and deals with the issue. Of course, they do it at sarkari speed only- and sometimes you will have to put the same complaint several times to get it addressed. But the time and effort required is so miniscule and the results so gratifying that it is worth doing.
One feature of the complaint system is that the complainant has to put in detail their name, address, phone and email. Now, for some mysterious reason, Parlekars are intimidated by the prospect of doing this. They would rather prefer to make anonymous complaints. I cannot understand this Psychology- but can reassure that no problem results from giving the details. Just sometimes the repairman may phone you to get the exact location of the problem. It just helps the MCGM do their task better. So this need not put anyone off making the complaints.
I just wish the MCGM adds an optional feature of posting photo of the problem. It will help the workmen to better visualise and even locate the problem. I hope they do it. And I hope the numbers of F-MCGM increases.
Most people in Vile Parle East who have interacted with the local ward office people in Gundavli have found the response within tolerable limits. Vile Parle East has a very significant number of 'active' citizens who visit the MCGM just to improve their surroundings- parks, open spaces, roads, healthcare, etc I should call them all 'Friends of MCGM'. F-MCGM are united by their positive attitude, perseverance and ability to 'get things done'. One such group helped to improve Sathe Udyan on Park Road about 6-7 years ago.
I think F-MCGM is a role many Parlekars can take up. A simple thing is to use the 'complaint system' more frequently. Through this we can be the 'eyes and ears' of MCGM. It works like this: as you go about your tasks daily, you may notice a pothole/ broken footpath/ overhanging dangerous tree branch...anything that needs attention. Log into http://www.mcgm.gov.in/; go to complaints section and inform MCGM about what you have seen. Save the complaint number and track its status. My experience is that mostly the MCGM takes cognizance and deals with the issue. Of course, they do it at sarkari speed only- and sometimes you will have to put the same complaint several times to get it addressed. But the time and effort required is so miniscule and the results so gratifying that it is worth doing.
One feature of the complaint system is that the complainant has to put in detail their name, address, phone and email. Now, for some mysterious reason, Parlekars are intimidated by the prospect of doing this. They would rather prefer to make anonymous complaints. I cannot understand this Psychology- but can reassure that no problem results from giving the details. Just sometimes the repairman may phone you to get the exact location of the problem. It just helps the MCGM do their task better. So this need not put anyone off making the complaints.
I just wish the MCGM adds an optional feature of posting photo of the problem. It will help the workmen to better visualise and even locate the problem. I hope they do it. And I hope the numbers of F-MCGM increases.
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