Citizens’ group unveils manifesto for community-driven development
The group has outlined a vision for urban planning and environmental conservation by integrating efforts between agencies such as the GMDA, MCG, and HSVP to ensure well-coordinated infrastructure projects
Gurugram: Gurugram-based citizens’ group, Making Model Gurugram, released a comprehensive manifesto aimed at transforming Gurugram into a model city through effective governance, sustainable planning and community-driven development. In the run-up to the municipal polls, the group’s manifesto emphasises inclusive growth, infrastructure upgrades, transparent governance and environmental sustainability, positioning citizen engagement at the core of the manifesto.

Gauri Sarin, founder of MMG said that the primary focus is on ensuring high-quality municipal services by addressing hyper-local issues through decentralised governance, as mandated by the 74th Constitutional Amendment. She envisions comprehensive ward-level planning that unifies all 36 wards under a strategic framework to ensure equitable service distribution. Additionally, she plans to introduce a Citizen’s Charter guaranteeing minimum service standards, delivery timelines, and accountability while implementing digital governance to enhance transparency.
Recognising the growing inefficiencies in civic management, Sarin said their manifesto prioritises root cause analysis over temporary fixes to tackle systemic problems. Her governance model includes long-term sustainable planning, incentivising efficient municipal corporation performance, and enhancing resources and training to strengthen the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG).
To address citizen grievances effectively, she proposes an efficient redressal mechanism with performance-based monitoring and public reporting of complaint resolution. She also plans to combat corruption through transparent digital tendering, setting benchmarks for quality assurance in service delivery and structured incentive programs for efficient governance.
The group has outlined a vision for urban planning and environmental conservation by integrating efforts between agencies such as the GMDA, MCG, and HSVP to ensure well-coordinated infrastructure projects. Their commitment to sustainability includes pollution control measures, waste management reforms, water harvesting initiatives, and roadside greening projects to improve Gurugram’s environmental footprint within two years.
MMG is advocating for inclusive development, ensuring that basic services such as clean water, waste disposal, and sanitation reach underserved areas like slums and villages. Sarin said they support designated vendor zones to reduce encroachments while preserving livelihoods. Additionally, they aim to promote Gurugram as an art and culture hub, strengthen public health services and launch awareness campaigns on sanitation and hygiene.
ABOUT THE AUTHORLeena DhankharLeena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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