When we saw this picture we felt it perhaps aptly describes many Mumbaites who have their head buried in the ground with regards to the problems that the city faces. We encourage you to break away from this mentality and become a part of the small but quick growing group of Mumbaites who wish to do something about the state of the city.

Many of us who accept the decrepit conditions of our train stations, people defecating on railway tracks, piles of garbage all across Mumbai, people spitting, taxi drivers endlessly honking, broken pavements, lack of garbage bins, etc. We all just go on accepting this on-going very real disaster called Mumbai.

The floods of 26th July 2005 were a wake up call for Mumbaites. Nearly 150,000 people were stranded at railway stations alone. 5 million mobile and landlines crashed. 1100 flights were cancelled. In certain areas of the city, there was no electricity for nearly 5 days. Nearly 500 people lost their lives. Corporate India came forward and partnered with United Way to help launch the Mumbai Helpline.

The primary vision of Mumbai Helpline is to help provide a platform to increase the synergy between individuals, citizen's groups, NGOs, local government and corporates and those who wish to help improve the living conditions in Bombay city. Mumbai Helpline is envisioned as a citizens movement spearheaded by volunteers and supported by a working secretariat to help empower the citizens of Mumbai to take charge and do something for their city.

Mumbai Helpline aims to create a Community Action Group in each ward that will comprise of individuals, a school, a college, the local police station, hospital, fire-brigade that will come together and build a working plan to address any disaster.

A disaster is amplified if our neighborhoods are filthy and are crumbling down. Cleaning and greening, anti-spitting, anti noise, solid waste management, slum adoption campaigns, etc. are all a part of Mumbai Helpline's agenda.

If you are reading this website it means that you belong to a small but quick growing group of Mumbaites who wish to do something about the state of the city. We request you to come forward, take responsibility and participate in our endeavor to help stop the disaster that Mumbai is turning into. We look forward to working with you for ‘Aamchi Mumbai'!

Regards,
Shibani Sachdeva
Mumbai Helpline Chief Volunteer