N. Raghuraman’s column – How can urban bodies get the title of ‘gentlemen’ | एन. रघुरामन का कॉलम: नगरीय निकायों को ‘जेंटलमेन’ का तमगा कैसे मिल सकता है

N. Raghuraman, Management Guru

This Sunday, seven people of a family died in a fire in a two-storey slum-like house in Chembur, Mumbai, three children were also among the dead. It is being told that the fire started due to kerosene oil kept illegally in the house and the Navratri lamp burning in the temple of the house.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, while visiting the incident site, announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased. A high level inquiry into the incident has also been ordered. Necessary steps are also being reviewed to prevent such accidents in future.

This is a very sad story, but when you go deeper, you will see another side too. And it will be known that the house in which the fire broke out was eligible for the SRA scheme, but it could not be done. Meaning, it could be demolished and rebuilt by the government’s “Slum Rehabilitation Authority”.

The question is then why did this not happen? The country’s richest municipal body, which is responsible for the entire Mumbai, says that the local people had objections to the contractor and litigation had started in the matter.

Now the third aspect of this is why no one trusts the authorities. That’s because they never keep their promises. Be it gardens, maintenance, timely work, roads or any improvement for the citizens.

When the administration does not stick to its promises, the bridge between them collapses and then people take refuge in the courts to settle the disputes. Thus distrust erodes the relationship and common people feel that the objective of the municipal body is not to provide a better city for all.

Do you remember the blast that took place in a firecracker factory in Harda, Madhya Pradesh on 6 February 2024, in which 13 people were killed and 215 were injured? At least 50 homes were damaged and some were razed to the ground, leaving 250 people homeless. The families were shifted to ITI hostel along with many other places.

After receiving compensation, they had to shift to their homes. On February 20, the NGT had ordered immediate compensation to the victims by auctioning the factory owner’s property. This matter later went to Madhya Pradesh High Court and the court gave stay on the NGT order.

Now the hearing has been completed and the decision is yet to come. Among the affected families there are children appearing for class 10th examination and there are only two toilets for every 70 people. Even in this man-made tragedy (according to the inquiry committee), the administration did not take strict steps.

However, it is not that he broke his promises every time. A few years ago, the people living behind the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai compromised a large garden in the area for the Siddhivinayak Metro station. Local people protested because their beloved garden was being affected.

This was the only place of peace in that crowded place. At that time the officials had promised that after the construction of the underground metro, they would return the garden to the same condition. Given the track record that has led to massive distrust between local people and the administration, this promise was also viewed with suspicion.

But with a happy development, this garden has not only started construction but is also on the verge of completion, meaning the local people are going to get their garden back. If the administration can keep its promises in a particular place, where influential people live, then why can’t the same administration win the trust of the slum dwellers? Now is the time for civic officials to look in the mirror and ask themselves whether their goal is to make the city better for all or for a select few?

The bottom line is that If the promises made to the common people are fulfilled, then the urban bodies will get the title of gentlemen. Otherwise, all his words will be viewed with disappointment.