I want Mala pahije Mujhe chahiye Mare je'i'e che

Byline Anand Singh Mohar Basu Mitali Parekh Sanjeevni Iyer Nasrin Modak Siddiqui Arpika BhosalelsquoSustainability must become BMCrsquos top agendarsquoPicKirti Surve ParadeMalaksingh GillEcofriendly culture sensitive architectArchitect Malaksingh Gillrsquos USP is his sustainable approach He owes his professional philosophy to mentor and BritishIndian architect Laurie Baker under whom he trained Like Baker who pioneered vernacular sustainable ecofriendly green architecture in India Gill is known for his innovative use of mud bamboo brick and other traditional materials Gill is a rare voice in Mumbai who advocates environmentally responsible architectural practices Cement and steel arenrsquot his best friendsMumbai didnrsquot always look like this Before RCC construction became ubiquitous carpentry and woodwork led the way in construction Concrete a heat magnet is one of the reasons for the heat and pollution gradually becoming unbearable over the last few yearsldquoLast year It was for the first time in history that Mumbairsquos AQI was worse than Delhirsquos The sea breeze generally comes to the rescue but of late even that hasnrsquot helpedrdquo he saysSingh argues that while it is fashionable for governments and authorities in India to discuss climate change mitigation measures in conferences and on a global scale little is being done about it in hyper local governance ldquoLeadership at all levels must value it sustainable measures and the change being brought about has to be meaningfulrdquo Gill assertsSlum redevelopment an important aspect in Mumbairsquos expansion and progress has often led to worsening conditions for residents ldquoThere are sensitive ways to develop Informal buildings like slums and chawls make up a sizable chunk of our cityrsquos built landscape Cramped buildings harbour bad health Builders and developers tend to focus on the financial aspect of redevelopment This is where the government state or central must intervenerdquoMumbai can be a leader in sustainability Gill feels and the onus is on all stakeholders ldquoDevelopers big or small can include micro windmills and solar panels in their design It can be easily done on buildings of all sizes in Mumbai It would help in running at least the essential services like water pumps and lightingrdquo He envisions a Mumbai where solar energy and rain water is routinely harnessedBecause the BMC demonstrated remarkable efficiency during the COVID19 pandemic in managing one of the worldrsquos densest cities he feels there is hope when there is will ldquoThat is the kind of reach penetration and power that the civic authority has in the city Sustainability can surely become one of its top agendasrdquo Without government support little is possible With it though Gill believes Mumbai has the potential to be a leader in sustainabilitylsquoMake Bollywood an organised industry give compensationrsquoPicSatej ShindeSuresh Shyamlal GuptaPresident All Indian Cine Workers Association AICWA The All Indian Cine Workers Association AICWA is dedicated to advocating for the rights and welfare of cine workers in India With a new government in the process of getting elected Suresh Shyamlal Gupta has a simple askmdashmake the Hindi film industry an organised sector that gets all the perks and benefits like any other sector ldquoThe industry generates a revenue of R2000 crores but the compensation to this sector is not proportional Every worker deserves fixed working hours payments Provident Fund gratuity and medical insurance Payments in our industry are not timely Some payments are pending for over two years And by the time it is time to pay we have heard producers try to pay them much lower than the agreed amount Additionally though the timings are eight hours most people work for anywhere between 16 to 18 hours This has physical and emotional implications on their physical and mental healthrdquo he saysWorkers in unorganised sectors often face severe hardships and Gupta says they are vulnerable to financial instability ldquoPost COVID 19 regular incomes of daily actors have gone down from Rs 2500 a day to Rs 500 We are told there is no money in the industry but actors still get paid The daily wagers are exploited They endure poor working conditions and receive inadequate wages without legal protection The absence of social security measures exacerbates their economic insecurity making it difficult for them to achieve a stable livelihood Work cannot be adhoc Aaj hai aur kal se mahine bhar kaam hi nahin hai Getting work regularly is their right and we need to achieve a system that allows it for daily wagersrdquoWhile the elevation of overall status of those hired by the industry is one of Guptarsquos primary tasks from the government and local authorities his immediate concern is to provide safety to female crew members of the industry ldquoThere should be a tollfree number for women working in the industry for their safety The Mumbai Police and local Government should dedicate a number just for women working in Bollywood Women safety is a major concern for our industry and in order to attract more prospective people to work from across the industry Every time a woman has raised a complaint she has been collectively shut down Now it has become a norm that most donrsquot talk of what they go through fearing getting blacklisted There are many women who have simply disappeared from the radar after a bad incident and not getting enough support to report to the cops Those who work in unorganised sectors are invisible in official data Who will tell the government the ground realities As someone who is heading a mediatory body I want this to be taken up on priority basisrdquolsquoStop infantalising people with disabilityrsquoNu MisraFounder Revival Disability IndiaNu Misra is on the forefront of fighting to show disability as a social realitymdashnot just an individual onemdashand the layered barriers in society essentially posed by seeing disability as unidimensional ldquoDisability has layers of caste urbanisation genderrdquo says the 26yearold who identifies as a nonbinary person and goes by the pronouns theythem ldquoand the system needs to legitimise our agency over our body so that our basic needs can be metrdquoThis includes health care sexual reproductive right and legal empowerment ldquoFor instance though in India the MTP ACT Medical Termination of Pregnancy is supposedly liberal there are many hurdles along the way Clinics may not be wheelchair accessible in nonurban spaces there is judgment at every step a disabled person needs to be accompanied by a guardian for the doctor to approve the procedure no information about aftercaremdashtherersquos evidence needed at every juncturerdquo they said ldquoA physically disabled person is seen as being cognitively deficient as well not given agency over their body and their financesrdquoThese barriers and lack of supportive infrastructure Misra says keeps them dependent on someone else at every juncture and thus makes it difficult for a queer disabled person to break out of an abusive family structure ldquoItrsquos common knowledge that many queer people face violence in their native familiesrdquo she says ldquothis could be in the form of withholding of finances or other resources such as vehicles so basic needs are not met and disability needs are not met eitherrdquoThey point out that the system sees them as one or the other Queer or disabled and not both ldquoFor instance a disabled trans person may not be allowed in a trans shelter homes run by the government by being seen as a disabled personrdquo It would lack the necessary ramp friendly bathrooms or insist on the presence of a guardianhelperThis systemic delegitimisation of the body needs to be fought in courtrooms clinics Vidhan Sabhas and the Parliament Municipal and lawprotection bodies need to enforce inclusion of infrastructure such as free legal services protection of identity connecting the MTP Act with PWDV Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act Each hurdle needs to be recognised and removed legislativelylsquoRaste bana do rent ghata dorsquoFaisal MalikActorproducer best known for his portrayal of Prahlad Pandey in PanchayatSeason 2 of Amazon Prime Video Indiarsquos hit show Panchayat concluded on a somber note with the untimely death of lsquoPrahladcharsquo Pandayrsquos soldier son Rahul Faisal Malik who had been the cheerful sidekick through the first two outings of the Deepak Kumar Mishradirected series which tells the story of an engineering graduatersquos dystopian experience of leading Phulera villagersquos panchayat as sachivsecretary suddenly assumes a prominent role as the grief stricken father of a fallen hero in the justreleased season 3As someone who is enjoying popularity with the masses after a decadelong struggle in acting Malik pauses when we ask him to name one change he wishes to see the authorities swing for Mumbaikar given the upcoming national state and civic election seasonsMalik says it with a laugh Bas raaste bana do yaarrdquo Malik has been a Mumbaikar since 2006 when he moved here from Allahabad to give a career in performance a shot ldquoIt is beyond me how this city is always under construction Ek baar bana do aur ek aad saal ki chhutti le lordquo he tells the civic authoritiesMalik is on his way to the airport and was stuck in traffic when we dial him Inevitably itrsquos the pockmarked roads and resultant traffic that rob Malik of his jovial disposition The seriousness crawls in pretty quickly in his voice ldquoThis is no longer a laughing matter Why are we having to demand something as basic as decent road in the countryrsquos financial capital The commute is taking longer As an actor I can tell you that the physical drain of being on the road forever takes a toll on my mindGetting out of home has become mentally and emotionally emptyingrdquoHaving been in this city for 20 years Malik feels that over time Mumbai has become increasingly tougher on outsiders They call this the city of dreams he argues and people from across the country and world land up here to make something of themselves but the policies that govern it are increasingly pushing out the average Joe ldquoldquoThese days brokers are peddling this theory that since a large number of buildings are going under redevelopment the there is a rising demand for rented apartments Why do landlords and builders have a field day Malik wonders ldquoWhy canrsquot the government intervenerdquoldquoSau rupiaye ke saaman ke liye 150 maangna jayaz toh nahin hai Logon ki majboori ka fayda nahin uthana chahiye Salaries havenrsquot gone up to match expenditure People come from everywhere and make Mumbai their home Itrsquos they who toil and run the city Forget me the actor What about our spot dadas spot boys Can he afford his rent Has he had to compromise with quality of life Yes The government must answerrdquolsquoDonrsquot interfere in our private livesrsquoVinamre KasanaaWriter and host of Dostcast a popular podcast involving indepth political conversations and interviewsThis yearrsquos elections have been unique in every aspect including controversial debates on social media The priority for host and YouTuber Vinamre Kasanaa who interviews celebrities and opinion makers on his podcast less government intrusion priority ldquoI want less intrusion from the government which reduces their interference in the daytoday lives of the peoplerdquo Kasanaa tells midday ldquoThe government also must focus on introducing more skillbased courses as opposed to the conventional method of learning while including more representation for the OBCs and other backward classes in key bureaucratic postsrdquoKasanaa has recently migrated from Haryana to Mumbai and wishes he could have seen more green spaces in the NorthCentral Mumbai constituency ldquoThere are barely any And so the crowds are heavy at these parks I hope that changes with the new governmentrdquoAmid the ongoing extremity of political discussions around the state Kasanaa tries to bring neutral and informative discussions to the table From having election predictions with notable leaders to conducting discussions on the accessibility of the political parties his podcast called Dostcast is full of healthy reasoningThe conversation further seeps into his expectations from the next Chief Minister of the state ldquoI want the next Chief Minister to implement the 247 nightlife promise that the government had earlier promised for Mumbai and Delhi but it never took off The state must reflect the sort of nightlife thatrsquos present in global cities like Paris Berlin or New Yorkrdquo adds KasanaaAnd lastly he emphasises on lowering land prices in hill stations thus encouraging people to be live closer to naturelsquoDumping grounds should be located 12 kms away from human habitationrsquoNandakumar PawarFounder Ekveera Pratishthan that works with conservation and restoration of wetlandsChembur and Bhandup in Mumbairsquos eastern suburbs stand out for a dismal reason They house three of the cityrsquos biggest dumping grounds The filth in the Thane creek makes matters worse for these areasA crusader for the wetlands of Mumbai comes from this region mdashNandakumar Pawar an environmentalist and the founder of the nonprofit Ekveera PratishthanThe stench rising from the dumping grounds that are so close to the residential areas shows the governmentrsquos apathy feels Pawar ldquoDumping grounds should be located at least 12 km away from human habitationrdquo he says ldquoBut do you see any such rule being followed or implementedrdquo he asksPawarrsquos frustration is palpable The political parties have failed to address these issues at the local level ldquoWhether it is the BJP Congress or the factions of the Shiv Sena and the NCP everyone talks about development but not green developmentrdquo he saysAs a member of the Koli community Pawar is particularly miffed with the false promises made to indigenous people and the fishing community regarding wetlands and decisions related to coastal regions such as the construction of the MTHL and the coastal road ldquoEvery government that has ruled Maharashtra claims that the voices of indigenous people will be heard But ultimately it is all driven by vote bank politicsrdquo he lamentsPawar recalls the promises of former MP Sanjay Patil of the NCP who was in the fray from his constituency in the Lok Sabha polls Patil had discussed the removal of dumping grounds near residential areas ldquoBut it was empty talkhellip It was raat gayi baat gayihelliprdquo he allegesDespite orders from the central government and various authorities including the National Human Rights Commission the National Green Tribunal and even the Supreme Court and Bombay High Court Pawar says the implementation of orders at the grassroots remains a nightmare ldquoThe governance at the local level is not strong enough Local administration has other priorities over environmentrelated issuesrdquo Pawar explainsPromises for the protection of mangroves a crucial part of Mumbairsquos ecosystem have also fallen short he says ldquoThe prime minister the chief minister and the deputy chief ministers all talked about protecting mangroves But look at their state todaymdashthey sit in absolute neglectrdquo Pawar points outHe also pointed out the ldquoenvironmentally detrimentalrdquo decisions such as the construction of MTHL and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority both inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Pawar also highlighted Chief Minister Eknath Shindersquos alleged approval of land acquisition in the Sahyadris at a rate of R1 per square metre in Ulwe for Tirupati Balaji templeTo ensure accountability Pawar says there should be a legal binding on lawmakers ldquoIf they donrsquot deliver what they promise in poll speeches the voters should have the right to remove them from powerrdquo he sayslsquoI want night markets for MumbairsquoNiyati RaoCofounder Ekaa and KMC Partner at NiSa ExperienceAsian cities are known for their lively openair night markets that welcome shoppers foodies and culture enthusiastsmdashsomewhere where locals and tourists can revel in a culinary escapade On returning to Mumbai from Copenhagen in 2020 Niyati Rao was determined to leverage her insightful experience at the Worldrsquos Best Restaurant Noma to leave a lasting mark on the Indian FampB landscape Inspired by her travels childhood memories and the people she encountered Rao conceived a restaurant where cuisine is interpreted and inspired by diverse cultures and ingredientsNight markets Rao feels provide tourists and visitors with the opportunity to socialise and experience local culture in a unique setting The cooler evening temperatures can make strolling through more enjoyable especially in a coastal city like oursldquoIt would be nice if the government gave this a thoughtrdquo she says ldquoNight markets have a rich cultural significance in many Asian cities and Mumbai with its diverse cultural heritage could greatly benefit from such a concept Sadly and ironically a beautiful metropolis like itself that never sleeps does not have a single organised night marketrdquo Which brings her to hospitality operation hours in general ldquoItrsquos time that the authorities are more conscious about restaurant opening hours We need some restaurants to be open 247 if theyrsquod like to be The city doesnrsquot have to pack up by 1 amrdquolsquoEngage youth to see largest voter turnoutrsquoPicAnurag AhireChaitanya PrabhuHead Mark Your Presencersquo campaign to increase youth voter turnoutChaitanya Prabhu was a regular sight at Mumbairsquos colleges in the runup to the Lok Sabha elections When he was merely 19 Prabhu began enlisting peers to register as voters but last year he accelerated his efforts to enroll those who turned 18Over the last six years he has been on the forefront of the Election Commission of Indiarsquos Mark your Presence campaign helping new voters register and procure a Voter IDRight off the bat Prabhu whose day job is as a lawyer in Bombay High Court clarifies the myth that ldquothe youth donrsquot carerdquo ldquoThe first thing that most youth including me want is someone to hear them outrdquo he says ldquoCity infrastructure for one is not an exclusive domain of older folkrdquo Despite having a stake in the cityrsquos future the youth feel they are not consultedldquoProjects are not envisioned for today or tomorrow they are built for the next 50 yearsrdquo he points out ldquoironically we are the ones who will be around for the next 40 years but have no say Another serious concern is the environmental impact of infrastructural projects Who is going to bear the brunt Itrsquos going to be us politicians and planners will not be alive to see the harm they may causerdquoUnemployment is one of Gen Zrsquos biggest anxieties but remains unaddressed The concern is not unfounded In January 2024 the Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy CMIE declared that for the first time in one year and four months the unemployment rate plunged from 68 per cent to 87 per cent ldquoSo many placement cells in colleges are failing miserably to get us a job despite taking fees for their servicesrdquo says PrabhuFrustration and anger are also some reasons he believes that the youth doesnrsquot turn out to vote in the expected numbers despite best efforts from him and ECIldquoThe general sentiment was that the youth was holidaying abroad or in Lonavala for the long voting weekend but that may have been the case for those with money and wherewithalrdquo says the 25yearold ldquoMost youth donrsquot have that kind of capital they were at home but yet didnrsquot vote because they were genuinely fed up Itrsquos expected since none of their representatives bothered to talk to themrdquoPrabhu insists that if the youth is engaged to feel they are stakeholders in the progress of their area city and nation the voting turnout will jump to numbers never witnessed beforeldquoRight now the youth is the most neglected demographicrdquo says the Worli resident ldquoWe are celebrated only for our numbers The elected MPs should try out a small engagement step first even small community meetings will go a long way I have been speaking to students on campus and the sentiment is lsquoYe badebade politicians hum logon ka sunenge ke nahi These kids are passionate about where the country is headed I think it is time politicians earn the trust of the youth Party jumping for example is a big trustkiller for them So they need to build new bridges with those who want a sustainable cityrdquolsquoIntroduce incentives to motivate FampB entrepreneurs to get creativersquoRahul ReddyFounder Subko Specialty Coffee RoastersWith Subko Rahul Reddy had intended to help reimagine the Indian Subcontinent as a legitimate contributor to the global speciality coffee movements In December 2018 the young entrepreneur left behind a career in the technology social enterprise and risk analyst sector to train as an apprentice at a speciality coffee company called City of Saints in Brooklyn New York Since then he feels that Indians must be motivated with incentives to launch creative FampB projects if we wish to see innovation ldquoThe bureaucratic processes should be simplified to allow ease of doing business and help new entrepreneurs overcome initial hurdles The regulatory framework must be made simple and predictable so that compliance is not an issue across the industryrdquoReddy also feels that the city needs more pedestrianfriendly areas that are FampB centred so that residents and tourists can enjoy more walkable spaces that also serve interesting food and drink ldquoThis emphasis on pedestrianfriendly spaces underscores the cityrsquos commitment to creating a more liveable and enjoyable urban environmentrdquo