Activities //

2014 - 2015

Erstwhile constituents of NAGAR now amalgamated: Clean Air (CA); CitiSpace (CS); Clean Sweep Forum (CSF)

Draft Development Plan:
The Draft Development Plan (2014 – 2034) was proposed by MCGM. To which NAGAR responded with suggestions and objections. NAGAR took a strong stand that heritage structures must be inducted in the new DP being drafted. NAGAR ventured in the field of Digital Marketing for promoting its stand on the MCGM’s Draft Development Plan (2014 – 2034) and NAGAR’s programs. It partnered with Tempus Fugit Pvt. Ltd. to make NAGAR’s impact felt through the channels social media, namely Facebook, twitter and so on. NAGAR had cause ambassadors, Mr. Cyrus Broacha and Mr. Vishal Dadlani who helped promote NAGAR’s role on the issues related to DP. YouTube movies and podcast were used as mediums to put forth NAGAR’s stand.

Exhibition:
NAGAR participated in an exhibition & conference organised by GuideStar to create awareness about NAGAR’s programs and activities.

Forts of Mumbai:
NAGAR initiated the issue of rejuvenation of Forts of Mumbai; a survey was conducted by students of architecture under the supervision of Architect Parul Kumtha. NAGAR planned to publish a book on the status of eight forts in Mumbai. NAGAR networked with various government authorities like Mrs. Valsa Nair-Singh, Principal Secretary, Tourism & Culture, Government of Maharashtra; S. K. Patil, Director and Dr. Maya Patil, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums.

Hawkers:
NAGAR continued its engagement with hawker issues, especially with reference to the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. One of the NAGAR Trustees, Mrs. Neera Punj was appointed on the Town Vending Committee in pursuance of Bombay High Court Order. NAGAR addressed a letter to the Prime Minister for “Non- implementation of the Hawking Scheme leading to overcrowding, dirt & chaos on streets thus defeating the goal of Swachhta in India’s financial capital”

4G antennae on Reserved Public Open Spaces:
NAGAR has opposed the decision of the State Government and the MCGM to give permission to install 4G antennae towers (TCS/BS) on Reserved Public Open Spaces. NAGAR filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on 4G antennae tower (TBS) on Reserved Public Open Spaces with other co-petitioners being OVAL Trust and AGNI. NAGAR began an online petition on www.change.org asserting its objection on the issue.

Open Spaces:
Public Open Spaces:
NAGAR raised concerns about the existing policy on public open spaces on following issues:
a. Mumbai Port Trust Land
b. Mahalaxmi Racecourse land
c. Caretaker and Adoption Policy
d. CSR policy

Reserved Public Open Spaces: NAGAR organised a public meeting, alongwith WECOM Trust and AGNI, to protest against the Maharashtra Government’s cabinet decision to extend the use of playgrounds for non-sport activities, especially political meetings from 30 days to 45 days in a year. This decision will make playgrounds unusable for 5.5 months in a year! A resolution was passed at the public meeting reflecting the objection which was sent to the Chief Minister.

Better Policing: NAGAR added a program on Better Policing. This program is being funded by Friedrich Neumann Foundation (FNF) and the MoU was signed between NAGAR & FNF in January 2015. This program includes:
To advocate for:
a. Public demand for Better Policing & Police Reforms
b. Safe, secure and crime-free environment in Greater Mumbai
c. Amicable partnership & interaction between the Citizens & the Police
d. Issues of public concern with reference to policing

Meetings and Networking:
NAGAR participated in various events organised by other NGOs:
i. “Unclog the city arteries” by the Association of Medical Consultants (AMC)

ii. Help Your NGO (HYNGO) round-table meeting for sharing experiences on raising funds and how it can be done.

iii. Mumbai First – European Union 1st Working Group Meeting on Environmental Issues. The two issues discussed were on Solid Waste Management and Water Conservation.

iv. NAGAR attended:
i. Meeting organised by MTDC for restructuring the policy “Adopt a monument”

ii. An event “Pani ki Kahani…” organised by Rachana Sansad, College of Architecture.

Internship:
Students of the College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan were placed with NAGAR for their internship. They worked on three programs – Solid Waste Management, Protection & Conservation of Water Bodies and Protection & Conservation of Heritage structures.

They prepared a People-Public-Private Partnership Model. It was uploaded by NAGAR on the Prime Minister’s web portal www.mygov.in under the program “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” i.e. Clean India Mission. As an offshoot of this Model, they conducted a ward-wise survey analysing the functioning of the Solid Waste Management Dept. of MCGM. NAGAR published their work on its website titled as “Solid Waste Management and Handling at the Ward Level in Greater Mumbai – A NAGAR Report (December 10, 2014)

Under NAGAR’s program for protection & conservation of water bodies, two RTIs were filed – with Ministry of Environment & with Ministry of Forests. The information received in response to the RTI from Environment Ministry stated that a “Wetlands Committee” was formed by the Ministry of Forests, which is now dormant. Just two meetings have been held till date. Mr. Swadheen Kshatriya, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra is the Chairman of this Committee.

Funding:
Brochure:
In order to raise resources for the activities undertaken by NAGAR, it was thought necessary to design a new brochure for NAGAR.

CSR:
NAGAR explored the possibilities of giving proposals under CSR policy introduced by the Central Government under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.

FCRA:
NAGAR got FCRA approval from the Ministry of Home, Government of India.