Mumbai's Gen Z Civics Squad Tackles City Woes

Mumbai may soon enlist 50 Gen Z 'civic fellows' to monitor and report on ground-level issues such as potholes, garbage collection, and transportation gaps. This proposed pilot program, the 'Mayor Next Gen Civic Fellows Programme,' is set to be deliberated by the BMC's general body panel later this month. Bharatiya Janata Party corporator Tejinder Singh Tiwana has put forth this innovative proposal, dated February 23, seeking to leverage technology and youthful energy to address urban challenges.

The initiative plans to recruit 50 educated youths between 18 and 25 years old. These fellows would be tasked with inspections and submitting reports via a mobile application, expediting complaint redressal. Tiwana’s notice emphasizes that this program will not only improve the monitoring of civic amenities but also actively involve youth in administrative processes, boosting efficiency and transparency.

This proposal follows Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde's earlier commitment on February 11 to launch a GenZ internship program. Additionally, in early 2025, Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam had announced similar plans to engage interns in monitoring civic governance. If approved, the BMC will further deliberate on the implementation details of this pilot project.