MUMBAI, June 6 -- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) plan to launch "Participate Mumbai", a citywide citizen-engagement and corporate social responsibility (CSR) platform aimed at channelling public participation into civic development, moved a step closer to implementation after the civic Standing Committee on Friday approved the appointment of M/s Ernst & Young LLP as its technical management consultant. The consultancy, valued at approximately Rs.2.27 crore, including GST and supervisory charges, will support the planning and implementation of the initiative for 24 months, with a provision for extension of up to 12 months based on performance. Conceived as a centralised digital platform, Participate Mumbai seeks to connect citizens, NGOs and corporates with municipal initiatives ranging from cleanliness drives and tree plantation campaigns to health camps, education support programmes, awareness drives and other community welfare activities. The platform is intended to address the absence of a unified mechanism through which citizens can contribute to civic development while enabling corporates to participate in approved municipal projects through CSR funding and in-kind support. The initiative will cover sectors, including education, health, environment, infrastructure, social inclusion, skill development and disaster management. Citizens will be able to volunteer for activities such as mentoring, digital literacy, health awareness, environmental conservation and community outreach programmes. Environmental interventions under the platform will include tree plantation, waste segregation, water conservation, biodiversity protection and pollution-control measures, backed by investments in sustainable infrastructure and green technologies....