The existence of ALMs, that is, as well as the supplementary local area citizens’ committees (LACC) introduced more recently is, as Ratho admitted, “an experiment’’.

   There was frustration with the level and speed of response from the Brihanmumbai municipal corporation (BMC) to concerns expressed by local ALMs at regular meetings with their ward’s assistant municipal commissioner. “Should we make the point that the ALM system is not working?’’ queried Gerson da Cunha of AGNI at the pre-meeting interaction during which the case to be presented to Ratho was discussed.

   On the other side of the table, the same thought found a different expression altogether.

   “Has the system failed or is there no system at all?’’ Ratho asked. ALMs began because of “a small group of inspired individuals’’, he added, but if they were to become a city-wide movement for change they may need to be institutionalised to a degree, perhaps by registering under the Co-operative Societies Act.

   This would ensure that ALMs or their successors would be subject to some rules as well as clearly define their rights and duties, and the responsibilities of the BMC towards ALMs, said Ratho.

   He suggested that each ALM should represent at least one lane of an area, to avoid unnecessary proliferation of ALMs. NGOs could be used to monitor the success of ALMs within defined parameters in each area, he suggested, as is done in Delhi with the Resident Welfare Associations.

   There was no conclusion, but the ALM and NGO representatives agreed to meet on their own again and then present Ratho with a suggested structure for a system to govern ALMs. Then, it was back to waste segregation, stray dogs and cows, and the gutters.