3. It was really shocking when we heard one of our classmate met an accident and
fractured her leg by falling into an open gutter on the footpath.
It was this incident, which made us feel and investigate why this must have happened?
I Devyani along with my school friends went around the school and were surprised
to see that footpaths were not properly constructed, dustbin was lying on the footpath, vehicles were
parked on the footpath. Well ! We also noticed the shopkeepers were keeping their belongings on the footpath.
We were questioning ourselves, is this the footpath on which pedestrians were
suppose to walk?
Will it be easy for a senior citizen to walk on this footpath? We were so touched by
our friend’s accident but, it was more shocking when we saw, the footpath were not allowed to breathe freely.
It was this time I and my friends Ashish, Dhanashree, Heenakshi, Mehboobi &
Krupa decided to take the task of making the footpath “FREE SPACE TO WALK”.
5. We will have to request
the shopkeepers to keep
their belongings inside We will have to
We will have to the shop. distribute
make a team pamphlets so that
masses can be
involved.
We will have to
We will have to
complain the
prepare a budget
concern authority
for achieving our
goal. We will distribute
flowers as
“GANDHIGIRI”
7. Mentor Teacher – Sunil Patel
Students – 1. Devyani Gavankar 2. Dubey Ashish 3. Vanjare Dhanashree
4. Choudhary Heenakshi 5. Somsagar Mehboobi 6. Krupa Patel
Budget – Hand made flowers & pamphlets were part of drawing and craft
activity. Transportation was free as the footpath administrative offices of the
authorities were at walk able distance. Our money requirement practically is
Rs.0
Program –12th, 13th, 14th September 2012 – Requesting the Shopkeepers to
keep their belongings inside the shop, park their vehicles in parking lots and
keep the footpath clean
8. Interaction with shopkeepers
It was a mix response from the shopkeepers, excuses like
belongings are lying temporarily, they have licenses to be on
footpath etc.
As our oral request were not heard by the shopkeepers, we
appealed in writing to the shopkeepers, to keep their belongings
inside the shop, park their vehicles in parking lot & keep the
footpath clean.
9. Visit to RTO (Regional Traffic Office)
We observed that some shopkeepers were not hearing our
request and appeal, so we decided to take the matter to the
Regional Traffic Office.
Response from the Inspector in charge
• Responsibility of constructing & maintaining roads is of B.M.C.,
MMRDA, PWD.
• Non availability of parking lots.
• The areas are not developed by BMC according to TOWN
PLANNING SCHEME.
• Traffic police is just the facilitator & regulator of traffic, so it is the
sole responsibility of BMC to solve this problem.
10. Visit to B.M.C. (Ward Officer)
We realized after interacting with the Inspector in charge, that the
solution for our problem lies, only & only with the B.M.C.. After
making lots of efforts, we got an appointment with the P.A. of Ward
Officer.
Response from the P.A. (Ward Officer)
• Complaints with respect to footpath should be addressed by the
construction department, maintenance department, license
department.
• Letter should be put in the inward of the B.M.C. department
which will be forwarded to the respective departments.
11. After sensitizing the shopkeepers, positive response came from
few shopkeepers in the form of promises and to support the efforts
taken by us.
My blessings
are with you,
Keep up the BEFORE AFTER
good work
• We decided to do GANDHIGIRI by
distributing flowers as:
• A token of thanks giving for the people
who have responded positively .
• A token of gratitude towards the
shopkeepers for their act of non co-
operation and hoping that some day they
will realize their mistake in using the
footpath illegally.
12. Appointment with the MAYOR OF MUMBAI on 8th of October, 2012
• For sustainable space walk we have made 10 teams of 5 students each who will continuously pursue
the shop keepers to keep their belongings inside and allow the pedestrians free space walk, also allow
the footpath to breathe.
14. • We actively participated with senior citizens
in a rally for the cause of saving the footpath.
• Sharing this experience with all our school
mates by uploading the PPT on our school
website - www.3rs.pragnyabodhini.com
