26/10/2023
NSCC, Pune – The Pioneer in the RWA Movement
The National Society for Clean Cities was founded in the 1970’s in Mumbai by Begum Ali Yavar Jung, the wife of the then Governor of Maharashtra. It was founded with a single objective, that is, to make Mumbai a clean city. Her concept of a ‘Clean City’ extended to healthy governance and elimination of corruption, along with the goal of making Mumbai a pollution-free city.
This concept was taken to Pune by Shri S. L. Kirloskar, the founder of the Kirloskar group of companies, and National Society for Clean Cities, Pune was set up.
“QUALITY CITY” , was the dream of Shri S. L. Kirloskar NSCC, Pune works independently in this city and shares this basic vision. We hope to improve the quality of life of the citizens of Pune by helping to enhance infrastructure and facilities and ensure the maintenance of a green environment.
The credo of NSCC, Pune is: Pune, A Clean City, Clean in Every Way. By Clean we mean:
• Clean Physically,
• Clean Environment,
• Clean Administration and
• Clean Governance.
NSCC does not believe in merely criticizing the working of the local government bodies; we believe in searching for better alternatives. We firmly believe that more can be achieved if the people work in conjunction with the government bodies instead of being in conflict with them. This is the philosophy we use in the way we work. We are happy to join hands with various local governing bodies like the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the Pune Cantonment Board, Pune Police, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd., and so on. We also work with other like-minded NGOs.
NSCC, Pune is the umbrella body which guides the numerous Mohalla Committees (Residents Welfare Associations/ Parisar Samitis) in the city. Each Mohalla committee is made up of responsible citizens who are committed to improving their neighbourhood. In a country like ours, where numbers are large, it may be difficult for government officials to be in touch with the grievances plaguing the local residents. This is where Mohalla committees can make a valuable contribution. A Mohalla committee holds monthly meetings with the Ward Officer (area in-charge) and his senior staff as well as representatives from Pune Police, in attendance. Issues pertaining to environment, health and hygiene, solid waste management, water, electricity, traffic, etc are discussed and a suitable plan of action is formulated with the Ward Officer’s help. The effectiveness of the NSCC, Pune lies in its bringing together the government officials responsible for administering a ward and committed citizens willing to offer their time, energy and, sometimes, expertise along with their close knowledge of the requirements of their neighbourhood. NSCC, Pune has created a platform for interaction of citizens and PMC officials, which has been seen to be crucial for effective implementation.
In a few years NSCC, Pune has become a dynamic driving force. It has been seen that the Mohalla committees have done excellent work in pointing out and prioritizing the needs of their neighbourhoods. They also perform the important function of bringing in a transparency in matters of administration since they are involved at every stage of the implementation of a project. The budget and projects of a ward used to be unknown to the citizens who lived in that ward. A major leap forward has now been taken with participative budgeting. The Mohalla committee now have a say in how the budget assigned for the development of a ward is to be used. Participative governance is what NSCC, Pune believes in. Citizens deserve to have a say – and a hand – in how their neighbourhood is to develop. With the growing concern of citizens about effective and able governance and the desire for a better quality of life, the role of mohalla committees has become crucial.
Initiatives taken up by NSCC, Pune:
• Solid waste management including garbage segregation and composting at source
• Preserving open spaces
• Leading the fight for the Green Development Plan inclusive of a Bio Diversity Park for the fringe areas.
• Citizens’ Involvement in the Development Plan for Pune
• Preventing indiscriminate dumping in the river
• Cleaning the river and preserving it’s natural form
• Saving water bodies from destruction
• Pedestrians’ rights
• Neighbourhood Watch movement with Pune Police
• Traffic management
• Town Vendors Policy
• Citizens’ participation in Budget making for their wards
• Tree Plantation Drives
• Voter Registration drives & Voters’ Helpline
• Citizens Election Watch: Informing citizens on the candidates’ background using their affidavits etc.
• Organising a platform for voters to meet and discuss with their election candidates
• And there are many more initiatives taken up by NSCC, Pune and its members..
In fact, NSCC, Pune has been the voice of Pune’s citizens as well as its conscience.
