NGO brings out data on citizens’ civic woes for future corporators
While candidates contesting the civic polls focus on ways to woo voters, Praja Foundation, a non-government organisation working on civic and health issues in the city, wants to ensure that citizens’ complaints are paid heed to by future corporators.
While candidates contesting the civic polls focus on ways to woo voters, Praja Foundation, a non-government organisation working on civic and health issues in the city, wants to ensure that citizens’ complaints are paid heed to by future corporators. The NGO on Wednesday came out with ward-wise data on the problems faced by citizens in their ward, which the elected representatives can base their agendas on. According to this, drainage, water supply and licenses to unauthorised shops top the list of civic issues faced by citizens.
The compiled data, collected through surveys conducted by the foundation and RTI appeals filed with the civic body, underlines the three topmost civic and health issues that have rankled citizens.
Issues such as drainage and contaminated water are a further concern for citizens as they are linked to several diseases. “Diarrhoea, a water-borne disease, clearly arises out of problems of drainage and contaminated water,” said Milind Mhaske, project manager, Praja Foundation
Water logging, followed by pollution and corruption are other areas of concern for citizens, according to the perception-based survey of 28, 707 residents conducted by the organisation.
“Our findings are not meant to be an indictment of past performances. We want the next lot of elected corporators to prioritise these issues on their agendas,” said Nitai Mehta, managing trustee of the NGO.
Praja had earlier evaluated each sitting corporator’s performance and released report cards on them.