Running for Fun, Running for a Better Future! By Citizen Journalist Ronald Vaz For Zarir Mistry, the 16 year-old resident of Yamuna Co-operative Society in Shrishti Sector 3, Mira Road, the blazing sun at the start of the Mini-Marathon event organised in his complex, hardly mattered. The fitness fanatic had trained hard for this mini-sporting event, and the inclement weather was not going to spoil his day. Alongside him, 25 odd runners of his age-group poised to take in the 1.7 km race over the interior roads of the sector, wore their number plates almost like a badge of honour. ‘I love my Shrishti’ their badges proclaimed! Indeed, the Mini-Marathon and the Slow Cycling Race organised in the plum Sector 3 of the Shrishti Housing Complex in Mira Road, could not have come at a better time. Once amongst the most well-kept and carefully planned housing complexes in the western suburbs, leave alone a greater part of Mumbai, the Sector has deteriorated considerably over the years, largely due to the inability to mobilise funds for interior maintenance and repairs by the incumbent managing committees. But, not any more. The new managing committee, led by the astute Dr Suresh Sehgal, a plastic surgeon specialising in reconstructive post-operative surgery in the area, is determined to change things. “The mini-marathons were organised to draw attention to the pathetic interior roads,” says Sehgal, “and I think the point was more than made.” In an age, when residents of a housing complex look forward to living a peaceful and relaxing evening and weekends, the residents of Shrishti Sector 3 have to make good with less than best amenities. “The roads are not the only problem,” says Sehgal. “There is the menace of stray dogs and related incidents of dog-bites, mosquito nuisance, non-descript security, water problems and deteriorated infrastructure.” But hope is round the corner as the new Managing Committee is determined to change all that, by taking the bull by the horns. The committee, which meets practically daily, will shortly release its roadmap for a better lifestyle, which it intends to achieve in relatively quick time. However, Sehgal admits the going will be hard. ‘We will look forward to the support of our co-residents, for sure, because we cannot achieve a turnaround without their assistance.’ Assistance means funds and uncompromising support. “People will support however, only when we deliver and are seen to deliver tangible benefit,” says Sehgal. The other members Attarwala, Johnson Cherian, Dr Aarti Benegal and Arvind Didwania of his team intend to do just that. When a dog van came to the complex to round off stray dogs, it was a step in that direction. But many more steps will have to come quickly; else the glory and future of the youth and children of this erstwhile paradise will remain lost forever!
Posted on: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:22:40 +0000
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