A citizens' charter for change

MUMBAI: A group of prominent Mumbaikars has outlined a way ahead out of the tragedy and confusion currently gripping Mumbai. In a meeting on December 1, chaired by former cabinet secretary B G Deshmukh, the citizens came up with ideas which they plan to place before the public and the media at 12 pm on December 8, at the Mumbai Patrakar Sangh.
The meeting was attended among others by former SC Justice B N Srikrishna, former Maharashtra chief secretary D M Sukthankar, Julio Ribeiro, former Mumbai police chief, former bureaucrat Sanjay Ubale, Nayana Kathpalia, Dolphy D'Souza (Bombay Catholic Sabha), A D Moddie, former bureaucrat and director of Hindustan Lever, Prem Mehta, senior advertising & marketing man and Gerson da Cunha of AGNI.
Taking note of the questions being raised by Mumbaikars, it discussed suggestions which, if implemented, could make the city secure.
The general line of thinking was that police and legal reforms, disaster management and co-opting the involvement of all communities, especially minorities, need to be addressed on an emergency basis. Equally important is bringing unity in civil society to rally the "numbers" that no politician or administration can ignore. These and other suggestions will be considered next Monday.
It was also decided to set up a secretariat to implement and follow up decisions/work on a permanent basis.