Clean up the filth in city

After quitting her company secretary job three years ago, 45-year-old Vijayalaxmi Kandala, has taken up civic responsibilities. Instrumental in getting garbage cleared in her area in Ghatkopar (East), Kandala feels she's strongly associated to matters of hygiene and health.

"Mumbai is full of garbage and illegal encroachments. Footpaths are taken over by hawkers and hutment dwellers and open defecation is rampant. The issue is getting severe as licence for hawkers is easily available. People come to find jobs here and once settled they bring their families too. Construction and other migrant labourers work for years and become permanent city residents," said Kandala.

As a solution, Kandala cites the example of the Bandra ALM and BMC ward that came together to make their area better. "From a sweeper to the ward officer, everyone should be accountable including citizens. Pedestrians have the right to walk on footpaths. Every ward officer should take a survey of his area once a week and the local corporator should personally come and take feedback at least once in 15 days. The public should involve themselves in these issues as only we can take care of our health and hygiene. A little power should be given to a public representative who can use this authority to better his area or tell people to stop littering or urinating," said Kandala who added that the labourers should be rehabilitated and separate hawker zones should be created.

Kandala believes that work can be done faster and better if the BMC, ALMs, police and residents can work together with minimal political interference. "Only if each citizen takes the zero tolerance policy, can the city be better. We need to hold our representatives as well as ourselves accountable," she said.

Author is a housewife