A group of nearly 4,000 students along with their teachers will form human chains in Mumbai on Wednesday to pay tributes to those who lost their lives in the July 26, 2005, deluge.
A human chain will be formed in South Mumbai and will run from Churchgate station to Mantralaya (state Secretariat), and the other will be formed along the S V road in Western suburbs and will run from Bandra flyover to Milan subway at Santacruz.
The event, organised by the Vote Mumbai Campaign, Rotary Club of Mumbai South and the H-West Ward Citizens Trust, will highlight the need for better governance in Mumbai.
Carrying placards, message boards and banners, the children will inform Mumbaikars of their fundamental rights to a safe, clean and modern city.
While concluding the event, five students from each of the two groups will hand over a plaque bearing solutions for better governance to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, at the Mantralaya.
Vote Mumbai campaign coordinator Anant Shende said Mumbai's problems are a classic manifestation of poor and short-term urban management, under development of rural India and the consequent unchecked migration. With a population of over 12.5 million, every citizen is deprived of basic amenities. Hence, there is an urgent need to search for winning solutions.
"The events of 26/7 last year only confirmed that there was something seriously wrong with the 'system of governance' and that there is in urgent need of an overhaul. The system should make the executive responsible and accountable," he demanded.
Mumbai, 26/7: Then and now. Tell us!