On the occasion of 10 years of victory of our defence forces at Kargil, Susieben Shah –Member of Maharashtra State Commission for Women and representatives from Indian Merchants Chamber, Rotary Club, August Kranti Kendra, Students and Youth, traveled to Kargil on Independence Day. The purpose of the visit was to salute the bravery of our Jawans and tie them “Freedom Rakhis” as also present  messages of support and appreciation from women all over India.

Susieben Shah had initiated this movement through a website www.rakhis4jawans.com so that women could send  virtual Freedom Rakhis through the website to our jawans, in recognition of their bravery and sacrifice. Within one week, women sent thousands of Freedom Rakhis and messages to the jawans.

At the dawn of 15th August 2009, Susieben Shah and the delegation participated in Vijay Divas Celebrations at Kargil with the Inauguration of the Harkabahadur War Memorial in the presence of Major General S. Khajuria, General Officer in Command, Kargil. He then gave a token of appreciation to the delegation on behalf of the Jawans. Hundreds of jawans were tied Freedom Rakhis by members of the delegation,  who had traveled to Kargil specially for this purpose. The delegation then proceeded to the Drass sector in which the Kargil War memorial is situated. On behalf of the delegation, Susieben Shah placed a memento of messages and Rakhis received in honor of the martyrs at the war memorial, followed by saluting the jawans and singing of the National Anthem. The aim was to make a statement that women from all over India are proud sisters of the Jawans and to acknowledge these true heroes of India’s Army, Navy and Air force.

Major General Khajuria said, “For the first time on Independence Day at Kargil, we have a delegation of women coming all the way from Maharashtra. The concept of ‘Freedom Rakhis’ is a befitting tribute to the soldiers who guard our borders in difficult weather conditions. This initiative will strengthen the bond between citizens and soldiers. Our jawans are extremely happy to receive the Freedom Rakhis from thousands of their sisters living all over India.”

On receiving the wishes and rakhis, one of the jawans Mr. Sanjay Patil from Kolhapur said, “I am overwhelmed by the gesture of these ladies from Maharashtra. Although, I missed my sister’s Rakhi on Raksha Bandhan, this initiative has compensated for my personal loss. We are feeling encouraged and motivated by this initiative and hope that this movement reaches out to many more soldiers who are serving our nation”.

At the function, Susieben said “we attribute our freedom and safety to these soldiers, who protect us from the enemies from across the border. It is unimaginable that in such harsh weather conditions they serve us with utmost commitment and the spirit of nationalism. Each soldier guarding our border is a real hero and a true inspiration for millions of young men and women across the country. The response to the Freedom Rakhi movement across India was so overwhelming that the NGO, Stree Kranti Kendra has decided to make this initiative into an annual feature”.

Susieben Shah also read out an inspiring message from Shri Ashokrao Chavan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, specially sent for the occasion.

There has arisen a need for a Peoples’ Movement to prevent the ruination of the ambience of Malabar Hill, Cumballa Hill, Babulnath Chowpatty, Nana Chowk, Pedder Road, Nepean Sea Road and Priyadarshini Park & Sports Complex.

In the seventies, the Government of Maharashtra proposed to reclaim 100 acres of land and convert Malabar Hill into another Nariman Point. This project was opposed by a Peoples’ Movement. The movement was spearheaded by Save Mumbai Committee and Save Breach Candy Committee, led by leaders like Shri Rajani Patel, Shri R K Karnjia, Shri Kishan Mehta, Dr R H Dastur, Shri Murli Deora, Dr L H Hiranandani and Shri B A Desai. The Movement succeeded and the Government had to drop the plan. The Save Breach Candy Committee was converted into Malabar Hill Citizens Forum with Shri B A Desai as its President. 

In the meanwhile, a portion of the land was reclaimed. The Builders wanted to construct Skyscrapers on the said reclaimed land. Shri B A Desai, then MLA and Minister, opposed the Builders’ plans and wanted to preserve the land both at Napeansea Road and Bhulabhai Desai Road as Open Spaces, Gardens and Recreation Ground. As a result of this Peoples’ Movement, we now have Priyadarshini Park and Sports Complex, Tata Gardens, Amarsons Park and a proposed Children’s Park in our area. 

Once Again a need for People’s Movement!!

Shockingly, the Maharashtra Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is going ahead with a project, detrimental to the entire, and our so called Posh Area of South Mumbai.
                  
The MSRDC wants to destroy the entire ambience of the area and has come with a preposterous plan, to implement the Western Freeway, beyond Haji-Ali upto Nariman Point by digging a dangerous Malabar-Hill Tunnel. MSRDC also proposes Sea Bridge from Haji Ali to Priyadarshini Park just 100 mts away from Coastline obstructing Sunrise, Killing the Horizon and Polluting Sea Breeze with Poisonous and Emissions of Carbon Dioxide from Vehicular Traffic on the Sea Bridge.

The project also envisages to construct huge concrete ramps on the Priyadarshini Park itself, also at Bhulabhai Desai Road and one more at the Chowpatty Bandstand causing grave devastation, havoc, congestion, and pollution and environmental degradation to our so called Posh Area.

It is surprising that MSRDC, while appointing the Consultant to carry out the feasibility study for this project beyond Haji-Ali upto Nariman Point, has specifically excluded the option of a direct tunnel from Haji Ali to Nariman Point or upto Chowpatty, thereby at the threshold itself, preventing the Consultant from examining the said proposal and presenting us with a fait accompli of the dangerous Malabar Hill tunnel.

The citizens of entire Malabar Hill and the surrounding areas support the option of an underground tunnel from Haji Ali to Chowpatty Bandstand and beyond!

We have to stop the sinister project by organizing a Peoples’ Movement.
 
As a first step, Mr Milind Deora, M P, had written a letter to the Chief Minister, opposing this plan of ruining the ambience and digging Malabar Hill tunnel and also destroying the prestigious Priyadarshini Park.
                            
Shri B A Desai, Former Urban Development Minister, Former Additional Solicitor General of India, four times MLA and Corporator from Malabar Hill Area, has also written a letter to the Hon’ble Chief Minister and the Public Works Minister Dr (Mrs) Vimlatai  Mundra, voicing our concerns.    

 Shri Bitu Saigal, an environmentalist and Shri Kantibhai Shah, of the Priyadarshini Parivar and others have filed a petition in the Mumbai High Court.  The said petition, opposing the Sea-Link, is coming up for hearing on 26th of February, 2009. 

Click here to read detailed information about the petition pending in the High Court filed by Shri Bitu Saigal and Ors.

We look forward to your support, to save our Area from an Environmental and Traffic Disaster.

Smt.Susieben Shah has launched a Civic Grievance Center, to address the day to day problems faced by the Citizens of South Mumbai, more particularly for the Citizens of Malabar Hill.  It will be the endeavor of the Center, to ensure that the grievances/problems faced by the citizens  are taken up with the relevant Authorities and the aid Center,  spare no efforts to speedy redressal of  the problem\grivance raised.

A prayer meeting along with Sri Sri Ravishankar was organized to mourn the martyrs and the Citizens, who lost their life in of the heinous terror- strike in Mumbai, on 26th November 2008. The said prayer/condolence meet, was organized on the grounds of Priyadarshini Park & Sports Complex.

To express solidarity with injured of the heinous Terror attack in Mumbai, Smt Susieben Shah, South Mumbai Mahila Congress & other office bearers visited two public hospitals G.T. Hospital and J.J Hospital on 29th November, 2008 and provided solace, to the bullet riddled, terror struck patient of the hospital.

We visited around 200 patients including women & children in the above hospitals, in the South Mumbai, and at close proximity of the terror strike on Wednesday night, 26th November, 2008. As citizen of Mumbai, Susieben took upon herself to serve the injured and provide solace to the grief stricken family of the victims of the terror strike.

Under the auspices of Indiraji's Birthday, the “Priyadarshini Taxi Service” was launched on 25th November, 2007 a taxi service owned and driven by women. The Priyadarshini Taxi Service was inaugurated and launched in Mumbai, by Smt. Renukaji Chowdhary, Honrable Minister Women & Child Welfare, Government of India.

“Priyadarshini Taxi Service” is a comprehensive and all encompassing Training programme where the participating Women will be given training and technical skills in:

• Driving with confidence,
• Knowledge on repair & maintenance of their Taxi
• Self Defense Skills
• Communication Skills, emphasis on spoken English.
• Knowledge of Mumbai from Tourism perspective

The duration of the training programme was for three months. We have trained 30 women in the first batch.

The training programme will ensure that the participants will become more Confident, Empowered and Smart - ready to face the challenges of the 21st Century.

The project has received widespread support in Mumbai as it is not only an innovative concept but also the need of the hour, with so many recent cases of misbehavior, assault and even murder of lady commuters by taxi. Everyone has been unanimous in their opinion that Women and Children will fell safer when their drivers are ladies and the city will be safer for them!

Recently launched a “Stree-Sahay and Stree-Shakti Mohim” for the women, widows, Children, the old and the infirm… Have been largely successful in reaching the Central\State Government scheme to the widows, the poor and the needy.

We have so far ensured that 33 women receive their widow pension under the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojna, ladies have received a one time relief of Rs.10,000/- under the Family welfare Scheme of the Government of India. The   Beneficiaries under the said scheme are from the Malabar Hill Constituency Mumbai. We have also been instrumental in ensuring that 400, widows of Jawahar Taluka, an impoverished tribal belt, of Thana District, receive, their pension for their life time.

26th July 2005 will be marked as “Black and wet Tuesday” for all the residents of Mumbai as Mumbai met with an unprecedented rainfall highest in the centaury of approximately 95cms less then 8 hours!! As an aftermath to the same there was an unprecedented water- logging and deluge, Susieben, along with, office-bearers of Stree-Shakti Kendra, rose to the occasion and took up the mantle of organising Free- Medical camps. The camps were held at: -

1. Anand Nagar - Bandra (East)
2. Gavdevi - Vakola, Pipe Line Road, Andheri (East)
3. Tulsiwadi - Tardeo, Haji Ali.