URBAN HEROINES

Till a year ago, The Oval Maidan in Mumbai was an eyesore. This heritage site was a haven for drug pushers, pimps, sex workers, card sharps and all sorts of anti socials. Morchas headed for Mantralaya were a daily nuisance and virtually every inch of the pavement opposite Churchgate Station was usurped by hawkers leaving pedestrians with no space to walk. In other words Oval Maidan was not what it was meant to be- a much-needed green belt for residents in south Mumbai.

A fact that disturbed Neera Punj, Nayana Kathpalia and Kunti Oza very much. Punj, after a long stint abroad, had returned to live near Churchgate, and Kathpalia, an activist with INTACH in Delhi, had shifted base to Mumbai where her home faced the historic Oval Maidan. Oza had lived all her life in the city. The three enterprising women rallied around to set things right. It wasn't easy. They were mocked at, officials were amused and dismissed these 'English-speaking mems'.

But the committed trio, fully aware of their rights, knocked at the doors of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), local government representatives and finally the Bombay High Court- all this in the early 2000s.

Their relentless crusade eventually paid off. Today morchas have been banned in the area and are stopped at Azad Maidan, the Oval Maidan has been restored to its pristine glory and pedestrians are able to walk on the pavements opposite Churuhgate. Success breeds success. The three are now much sought after for guidance and help by residents' groups spread across the city. Their initiative- Citizens Forum for Protection of Public Space, better known as CitiSpace-now has over 500 paid members who are consulted by the BMC each time an issue of open space arises in the city.

Moral of the story,'If citizens wish to improve the quality of life around them. They can do it. But they have to step out.'