Mumbai: "Do you think in view of the swine flu all schools need to be closed?
Please answer yes or no.
Please reply on 108 by 9 pm today.
Please forward this message to others"
This is the latest on the panic over H1N1. The Mumbai municipality offered a swine flu poll.
"If majority of people feel that there should not be anything and schools should be closed, we will do that. We will forward the results to Centre," said Jairaj Phatak, Mumbai Municipal Commissioner.
After Pune shut down its schools and colleges, Mumbai municipality came under increasing political pressure to do the same. Especially from the Shiv Sena which controls the civic body.
"Schools spread the virus faster. Mumbai is a densely populated metropolis. We need to secure the children. More than education, it's about health," said Shubha Raul, Mumbai Mayor.
Raj Thackeray's MNS was quick to jump in. Party workers started going around the city urging schools to shut down.
"They are not agreeing. They are waiting for the situation like Pune to happen in Mumbai," said Sharmila Thackeray, Leader, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
It was then the municipal commissioner appointed by the Congress-NCP government came up with this SMS solution.
So what does Mumbai think of the poll?
"Schools are the fastest way for it to spread. Already five people from my school got swine flu," said a Mumbaikar.
While another Mumbai resident didn't quite agree to it: "Give people instructions but I don't think schools should be shut."