After last week’s unprecedented deluge, which submerged parts of Mumbai, a post-mortem is in order. Many of us have lost loved ones, and unparalleled damage has been caused to property and commercial activity, in and around Mumbai. Mumbaikars have had to deal with having no electricity for up to three days, coupled with a shattered telecommunications network. Some have watched everything they owned being washed away. Furthermore, malicious rumours caused panic, leading to stampedes and further loss of life. Yet, no natural calamity should be allowed to cripple India’s financial capital. In New York City, after 9/11, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s command centre was put into action. This centre was thoroughly tested through drills and citizen participation. By and large, it delivered results. The private sector, too, played a key role in this effort. For instance, Home Depot provided batteries and generators, Cisco rebuilt much of the city’s telecommunications network and Jeff Imelt of GE and Rupert Murdoch set up the Twin Towers fund for families of uniformed personnel who had lost their lives saving others. The breakdown in Mumbai’s disaster management planning should not be seen as a process malfunction. It points, instead, to the need for major changes in Mumbai’s administrative structure. Indeed, the task of transforming Mumbai into a world-class metro also hinges precisely on such reforms. For one, it is important for Mumbai to have one democratically elected leader who can be held responsible for its overall well-being. We elect 6 MPs, 34 MLAs and 225 municipal councillors to represent us in Parliament, the state assembly and the municipality respectively, with no individual being held accountable for the city as a whole. Today, the chief minister is responsible for Maharashtra, of which Mumbai constitutes only a part. While Mumbai has only an eighth of the state’s MLAs, its economic contribution to Maharashtra is far greater. A complex city like Mumbai demands dedicated attention. No CM can effectively focus on converting Mumbai into a worldclass metro when he has other cities like Pune and Nashik, as well as rural areas, to worry about. Mumbai’s leader should therefore be mandated to deal with its problems exclusively and be given the relevant powers to do do. Two, New York’s mayor is more prominent than its governor. Many Mumbaikars, however, are unaware of who their mayor is, and what his responsibilities are. The elected representative in charge of Mumbai must have overriding powers to control all agencies working in the city. For instance, MHADA reports to the housing minister, MSRDC reports to the transportation minister, the police to the home minister, MMRDA and BMC to the urban development minister and chief minister. This leads to a major disconnect between the key agencies working for Mumbai. It makes little sense that Asia’s largest civic body — the BMC — is run by a bureaucrat in the world’s largest democracy! It is therefore important for state governments to decentralise their powers, not just in Mumbai but in all major cities — and bring the efforts of local authorities together. Three, as exemplified by New York after 9/11, Mumbai, too, would greatly benefit from private sector involvement in its restoration process. Several companies have come forward to donate relief material, but the notion that corporate social responsibility in times of crisis can lead to profitability, has not been fully understood. I have been coordinating relief efforts with several NGOs and foundations to provide authorities with dumper trucks, drinking water, drugs and temporary shelters. We have also roped in private radio partners who will communicate live updates on city developments. Four, citizen participation is a must. The BMC’s Standing Committee handles a Rs 5,000 crore annual budget. Prominent citizens and NGOs could scrutinise the committee’s decisions for greater transparency, which should lead to more accountability. Citizens interested in Mumbai’s future can play a role by networking with their local representatives in the BMC and state assembly. Mumbaikars should also pay attention to the state government and BMC’s annual budget speeches in addition to those presented by the Union finance minister. After all, in a democracy, it is only a people’s movement that can determine change. By enacting legislation like the Right to Information Act, the UPA government and the National Advisory Council, chaired by Sonia Gandhi, are increasingly trying to empower Indians. We should take advantage of such initiatives. The RTI Act is an important tool that could enable citizens to participate in governmental decision-making. Five, the National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM), recently established by the prime minister, can drive structural reforms in state governments, such as those highlighted above. Just as shareholders would demand reforms before investing in a sick company, the NURM should pressurise governments that do not undertake structural reforms by only funding those that do. Six, Mumbai’s transformation will remain a distant dream without the active and informed participation of the media. In addition to reporting news, the media has a responsible role in making citizens aware of their representatives in India’s three-layered democracy. Sadly, many in Mumbai don’t know who represents them in the BMC and Maharashtra assembly, and what their responsibilities are. This trend is reflected in voting turnouts where parliamentary elections record higher participation than BMC elections, although it is the BMC that affects our daily lives. Perhaps Mumbai’s media could begin by regularly scrutinising development initiatives undertaken by nodal agencies in the city in the form of a quarterly report. Another campaign could be directed towards the devolution of powers from the state to the city. Over the last few days, Mumbai’s citizens have faced tough times. They have emerged through them remarkably. Their faith in the local administration may have been shattered, but their will to survive and help others continues to inspire people across India. It is, in fact, the average Mumbaikar that saved Mumbai. That infectious bhagidari (partnership), if energised and directed towards these solutions, will ensure that Mumbai retains its place as India’s premier metropolis. The writer is a first-time MP representing Mumbai South
