Mumbai: While a lot of citizens’ groups and residents’ associations release their individual manifestos prior to the elections, rarely does any group follow-up on their charter once the elections are concluded. However, the residents of Chandivali have made sure that they seek accountability from their member of parliament even after a year of election.
As Lok Sabha elections complete one year on May 20, Chandivali residents have sought a follow-up meeting with their MP Varsha Gaikwad. The Chandivali Citizens Welfare Association (CCWA) has asked the parliamentarian to share her progress in regards to the assurances made to the citizens during the launch of their citizens’ manifesto.
On Thursday, CCWA wrote to Gaikwad requesting a follow-up on the meeting held before the elections to discuss the citizens’ charter ‘Chandivali Cha Manifesto’. While the residents expressed gratitude for her continued efforts in amplifying citizens' voices, they also said that they have been unable to secure a meeting with her to discuss the progress on these matters, even after requesting for an appointment.
The residents’ association has asked the MP to work on issues like air pollution, misuse of public spaces, fire station upgradatjon, footpath encroachments, tree basin concretisation and completion of 90 feet road connecting Chandivali farm road to JVLR.
They also requested Gaikwad to support the. in raising these issues with the concerned authorities including Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.
Mandeep Singh Makkar, "Around a year ago, we drafted a citizens manifesto and presented it to both the MP candidates. Now after one year of MP's term we seek an action taken report on citizens charter. As a citizen forum, we request our esteemed MP to actively amplify the issues outlined in our manifesto with the concerned authorities and accompany us to the BMC Commissioner as most of our issues fall under the BMC and state government's purview, in the absence of corporators, we look to our MP to champion our voices and drive meaningful change.”
In April 2024, CCWA launched their citizens’ charter ‘Chandivali Cha Manifesto’ which was discussed by both the major contenders for the Mumbai North Central constituency Gaikwad from the INDIA alliance and Ujjwal Nikam from the National Democratic Alliance.
The manifesto sought the elected representative to resolve resolve traffic issues, implement DP roads, curb air pollution occurring from illegal bhattis and ready-mix concrete plant, upgradation of mini fire station, encroachment and many more issues.
