The Indian Express    07.08.2012

Mayor backs corporators’ demand to ban adult plays in BMC halls

Less than a week after he ordered the removal of Jism 2 posters from BEST buses, Mayor Sunil Prabhu has echoed some corporators’ demand to ban an adult play in community halls owned by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

MNS corporator Sheetal Mukesh Mhatre from R-North ward on Monday demanded a ban on the performance of adult plays in BMC-owned community halls. Surprisingly, the director of the play Ek Chavat Sandhyakaal (A Naughty Evening), Ashok Patole, has himself kept the play off limits for women till it completes 25 shows.

“Two weeks ago, a woman complained that she was not allowed to watch Ek Chavat Sandhyakaal as it was deemed unfit for women. This sort of treatment should not be allowed in a public theatre; there should be some norms,” Mhatre told the BMC general body meeting on Monday. “These activities are spoiling the name of Mumbai. They should be family-friendly. It should not be that only a certain section of the public can watch these at a community theatre.”

Taking note of her strident opposition, Prabhu told Additional Municipal Commissioner, Aseem Gupta, “The BMC must keep a watch to make sure that all its community halls are being used for the right purposes and the plays performed follow the norms as required of these spaces.” These are public spaces and must be open to everyone, he added.

Patole, also the writer of Ek Chavat Sandhyakaal, said: “Around two weeks ago, we received a letter from the Prabhodhan Thackeray Hall in Borivali, stating that parents of some young boys and girls had complained about the staging of three plays — Ek Chavat Sandhyakaal, Shivaji Underground and Yonichya Gujagoshti. They objected saying the venue, which has a library frequented by youngsters, was meant for cultural programmes. They said they could not permit performance of a play with adult content.”

Patole said it is true only men were allowed to see the play. He, however, added that they would open their play for women after completing 25 shows. “We are not going to make any changes in the script but we will let women also watch it after we complete 25 shows.” The play, which was first staged on June 8, has so far had 20 shows.

Both Patole and the corporators came in for criticism by theatre personalities. Theatre director Sushama Deshpande said, “Every script goes through censorship before it is staged. So, this is a funny thing to do. If they are performing it professionally, women viewers should be given the choice of taking a stand. Stopping them from watching it sounds like an attempt to sensationalise it.”

Arun Kankre, a prominent theatre personality and one of the founders of Awishkar, an experimental Marathi theatre group, said: “I have not seen the play. However, I do not support banning a play.”

The Times of India  07.08.2012

Mayors seek more power

JAIPUR: Four mayors of the state presented a memorandum to the governor Margaret Alva demanding implementation of the 74th constitutional Amendment Act on Monday.Mayors of five municipal corporations were in the city to participate the in the mayor council meet.

The mayors said they needed more powers - administrative and financial - to ensure better development in their areas. City mayor, Jyoti Khandewal said, "We have been assured that talk will be held soon with chief minister Ashok Gehlot and UDH minster, Shanti Dhariwal." In the council mayor of Jaipur, Kota, Ajmer and Bikaner participated, while Jodhpur mayor did not attend the meetingDuring the meeting the mayors also made discussion on their demand that the mayors should have the power to fill the annual confidential report (ACR) of the chief executive officer. "If the power of filling the ACR comes under the jurisdiction of the mayor a lot of problems will be resolved." added KhandelwalIt was also discussed that chief executive officer misuse their financial power as the mayors are not kept in the loop. Bikaner mayor Bhavani Shankar Sharma said, " Without consulting the mayor, the CEO uses the funds.

" Agreeing to the fact, mayors explained people have a wrong notion that a mayor can do everything and has unlimited powers and resources at his/her disposal. They are perhaps oblivious of the fact that a mayor has absolutely no or rather minimal financial and administrative powers at his/her disposal and instead it is the municipal commissioner who wields real and unchallenged power.Khandelwal claimed, we are demanding to seek revision in 74th constitutional Amendment Act and its implementation on the lines of southern states which provide a city-government concept where mayor gets the right to transfer of the officers.In the meeting the city mayor also informed that she recently met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in this regard.