CITY

Sudhir Suryawanshi

The BMC has come up with a novel project that will provide employment to the lower strata of society and simultaneously cater to the needs of the well-to-do.

Realising that citizens have a tough time finding reliable servants, maids, plumbers, electricians, cooks and other tradespersons, the civic body will set up 'service centres' that will provide contact numbers of the people who provide such services in the locality. The centres, to be called Adhar Kendras will be set up in each ward.

The Adhar Kendras will be manned by NGOs or community based-organisations (CBO) but BMC will provide the infrastructure, including land, building and furniture.

"These centres will work on behalf of the BMC," says additional municipal commissioner Manu Kumar Srivastava. Adhar Kendras will also display and sell products made by beneficiaries of various poverty alleviation schemes.

"The schemes are meant to provide livelihood to the poor. Such people often need a platform to market their products, which will be provided by the Adhar Kendras," a civic official told Mumbai Mirror. In addition, Adhar Kendras will also serve as 'citizen facilitation centres'. Citizens can make payments for property tax, water bills, renew various kind of licences, obtain birth and death certificates at these centres. Officials expect Adhar Kendras to serve as another means to put civic services within the reach of more citizens.

Congress corporator Rajendraprasad Choube says the project will help eliminate poverty in the city. "Around 60 per cent of Mumbai's population stays in slums. Many of them run small-scale industries. Adhar Kendras will serve as an outlet for their products," he says.

Citizens have also welcomed the idea.

Indrani Malkani, secretary of Malabar Hill Residents' Association, says, "We always face problems finding servants. Many a time, citizens hire people who turn out to be rogues due to lack of credible sources. These centres will be a far more authentic source for various services."

The BMC intends to make the centres operational in two months and has already invited tenders from NGOs and CBOs. Centres will be allotted to such bodies on the basis of their work experience and reputation.