History: Few citizens of Wadala got together
and brought out VOICE OF WADALA [VOW] a neighbourhood newsletter
in 1988. This was a two-page foolscap Xerox offset newsletter
distributed in the neighbourhood.
In 1994 the Humanist Centre, Wadala converted the VOW into
a 4-sheet tabloid size. The distribution was done through
volunteers standing outside the railway station in the evening
and given to commuters returning from office. It was also
distributed on Sundays at 5 gardens. Within a year, a network
of volunteers was created in every building/area and distribution
done house to house through volunteers. VOW then covered the
whole of Wadala.
In August 1996 at the suggestion of the residents of Matunga
a supplement INTERLINK covering Matunga was added to VOW,
and subsequently VOW distributed in Matunga.
In November 1997 again at the request of Dadar citizens VOW
was extended to Dadar and connected citizens of Wadala, Matunga
& Dadar. In September 1998 the newsletter was formally
renamed VOICE OF WADALA, DADAR & MATUNGA. With more citizens'
group joining in bringing out VOW, a Group of citizens from
Wadala, Dadar & Matunga took over the responsibility of
publishing from Humanist Centre Wadala. Humanist Centre Wadala,
which was also a part of this group.
VOW became popular among the citizens of Wadala, Dadar and
Matunga and also was a paper to reckon with the F/North Ward
Office of BMC. The Ward Officer then suggested that we add
Sion also so that the newsletter would cover the full F/North
Ward and become a newsletter of the Ward. This was accepted
and from April 1999 the newsletter was renamed VOICE OF WADALA,
DADAR, MATUNGA & SION. Since then VOW is a newsletter
that the neighbourhood longed for and looked forward to every
month. Today VOW reaches out to 1,00,000 residents of the
F/North Ward of BMC for better quality of Life.
Projects/Achievements: SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS
Some of the successful campaigns undertaken by VOW are:-
- Heavy lorry traffic hazards in Wadala [August/November1996]
- I Love Wadala - Cleanliness Campaign [December 1996]
- Municipal Election Watch Campaign 1997
- Khubsurat Mumbai Khubsurat Wadala 1997
- VOTE YOU MUST campaign for loksabha elections 1998 - Voter
pattern increased by 12%
- CGSI, SOCLEAN & WORSPA's People's Movement - everyone
must be involved - the only way for better quality of life
Campaign for volunteers. This resulted in 317 volunteers response
from F/North out of 555 from the whole city [May 1998]
- Mumbai Police's ALERT CITIZENS campaign to help Crime Prevention
July 1998
- CLEAN MUMBAI Campaign Special [September 1998]
- India can be different if we are not indifferent - a one
year campaign April 1999
- Civic Page introduced from May 1999 to publicise good work
done by BMC's ward office and also to put forth grievances
of the citizens
- Clean & Green Mumbai week January 2001
- Swacha Mumbai Abhiyan September 2002
- Maharashtra's Right to Information December 2002
- Don Bosco / AGNI / VOW ALM Campaign 2003
- Cross demolition campaign & Lok Sabha Election Campaign
2004
Apart from the above campaigns, regular reports were made
towards Vermi-composting, Zero garbage Advanced Locality Management
scheme, civic service information etc. During elections the
citizens were given details of candidates to help them vote
for their good candidate on informed choice and also where
one has to vote.
How can you work with others? : Can give
an Audio-Visual Presentation
Organization:
full time:
part time:
volunteers: 550
Help Needed:
Volunteers: yes
Donations-in-kind: no
Services needed: yes
Advisors / Mentors needed: yes
Jobs Available: yes
Donation possibilities:
Contact Details
VOICE OF WADALA
13/203, Sahakar Niketan, Road No. 32A,
Wadala(W), Mumbai 400 031
Phone: 2416 8220 / 2414 9880
Fax: 2416 2561
email:
support@VOWmumbai.org
Contact: Piyush Sheth / Sharad Kumar
phone: home: 24181022 (best time to call: 9 pm to 9 am)
cell: 9819662679 (best time to call: 9 am to 9 pm)
website:
http://www.vowmumbai.org
email other:
info@vowmumbai.org
interview or write-up:
http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2004/november/96136.htm
