Sudden crises can overcome the inertia that holds communities back. In the case of Surat, the trigger was, of all things, an outbreak of the plague in 1994. Anything would be an improvement on that, of course. But the key to change is to maintain the momentum. Surat has managed that - and in doing so has become a yardstick for South Asia's city managers.
Purposeful leadership can make a difference.
Consider Marikina, one of 18 cities and towns that make up Metro Manila. Its river was a public dumping ground. He convinced voters he was the one. To clear obstructed streets, Fernando had all goods displayed on sidewalks classified as garbage and disposed of. Erring police officers were made to perform squats in public.