Report highlights 'apathy' in nominating members on BMC panels

The civic administration of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and its senior councillors were "apathetic" towards nomination of members on ward committees, a report by the Praja Foundation stated.
The report released yesterday said that from 2012 to 2014, only five out of 17 ward committees got nominated members, even as there is a provision that each panel could get maximum three nominated members.
Till (December) 2014, only 11 nominated members were in the board of ward committees, while as per the provision 51 such members could be nominated, it said.
The ward committees had been formed in January 2000 after the amendment in Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act 1888 as per 74th Amendment of the Constitution of India.

Terming it as "unfortunate", Milind Mhaske, Project Director of Praja Foundation said, "The collective responsibility of nominating members lies with the civic administration and senior counclillars. However, just like any other area, the BMC has failed on this front as well."
Ajay Shukla, a former nominated member in L-ward committee said, "Earlier, when power to appoint nominated members was in the hands of senior municipal officers, representatives of NGOs were appointed in committees, but when it was shifted in the hands of Ward committees chairmen, things got muddled up."
According to the provisions made in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, such members should be selected from amongst the members of recognised non-government organisations and community based organisations engaged in social welfare activities and working within the area of the ward committees.

Another former nominated member and RTI activist Anil Galgali said, "This is nothing but disrespect of constitution. BMC administration has failed to understand why there was 74th amendment of constitution (to decentralise the power in decision making).