For good reason too. Even if private agencies are assigned the job of giving the BMC a people-friendly positive hue, the groundwork which will justify the intended projection will have to come from the civic staff itself.

Nalinakshan has admitted there are bright people in the corporation. Why not push them instead of getting outsiders to do their job? The civic chief feels popular and competent people in private agencies leading private lawyers for instance can perform the BMC staff's work better. It is clear he wants charisma coupled with competence to make the BMC more savvy. Yet does this mean that he, with allhis authority, has admitted the failure of BMC employees in carrying out their responsibilities? If this is the message he desires to send across, he should not expect his staff to perform. Who would like to slog and let others take all the credit? The involvement of private agencies will demoralise BMC's hardworking staff, while those who hardly work will stay indifferent. What Nalinakshan needs to do is motivate his 1.5 lakh workers and get work done from them. At a time when the BMC is facing a record deficit, pumping in more money does not seem a wise decision, that too merely for an `image makeover.' Rather than dreaming up projects and telling the whole world about them, Nalinakshan should set himself to the task of translating his dreams into reality. And get the civic staff to wholeheartedly participate in the process.