Non-BMC attendees: List & background being circulated separately

 

 

1. Since there was only one person from IIM, the focus of the meeting was restricted to IITians.

 

2. What are the special characteristics that IITians bring to the table - individually or as a group - as IITians are trained in a particular way and thus have specific characteristics? (not that other individuals or groups do not have similar characteristics)

 

Some thoughts expressed were:

- problem-solving ability for any problem -- including general ones

- passion to solve problems and within a specified time-frame

- effective management of a project

- highly motivated in the right environment

- well-organised individually and as a group

- objectivity and fresh ideas -- no 'motive'

- access to technical resources and other resources due to the vast well-organised IIT network worldwide

 

One of the needs for an IITian to deliver the above that was expressed was 'insularity' or a 'protected' environment in which they could work on their own.

 

 

3. Each person in the group listed their expertise and experience, what they could do for the city, etc.

 

After brief feedback to each, Mr. Ratho shared some thoughts that came to him as he listened to the group.

 

a) The Alumni Assoc could put together a Directory which could act like an Advisory Resource for BMC and for NGOs. BMC could also identify areas of interest, if necessary, for the questionnaire.

 

b) The Alumni Assoc could take up projects in the city e.g. the Powai Lake project. The projects could be identified by the Alumni Assoc on its own or could be jointly identified along with BMC.

 

c) The IIT Campus could be developed as a ecological showcase model e.g. proper treatment of waste, alternative energy sources, etc.

 

d) IITians have a lot of credibility and thus if the Alumni Assoc were to voice their opinions even on the common problems plaguing Mumbai -- the authorities and the citizens would take their opinion seriously. An example he gave was to look at engineering solutions from a citizen's point of view e.g. footpaths -- BMC is raising the height so as to prevent cars parking on them, but it does not consider it from a holistic viewpoint e.g. difficulties for old people, road flooding concerns, etc.

 

e) The Alumni Assoc can provide a fresh look at how to do things better. Since BMC has been doing things in a particular way since a long time, it 'knows' that things can't be done better (or at least BMC can't do it better) irrespective of what the media, NGOs, or citizens say. IITians can play a valuable problem-solving role or provide innovative solutions.

 

f) Since new littering and waste segregation rules are going to be announced by BMC, maybe the IIT Alumni assoc could focus on that over 1-2 months. Two immediate suggestions from the group were: a) bus conductors to be told to ask spitters to get out at the next bus stop; b) spittoons could be designed by IIT IDC.

 

 

4. Points expressed by Vinay at end:

 

a) This meeting, like some of the other BMC - NGO / Citizen meetings, threw up new perspectives. How can such "out-of-the-box thinking" be institutionalised "in-the-box"?

 

b) The IIT Alumni Assoc should do some soul searching of how they want to contribute to society.