Swaraj through Ward Committees
Hon'ble High court has ordered BBMP to form Ward Committees.
However, BBMP was unable to complete the task in all 198 wards and had asked for 2 more weeks. It has to do the needful before the next hearing that is on June 28 2017.
Mrs. Kathyayini Chamraj, who has been fighting for it for almost 2 decades, had alerted the Court, about Corporators naming their own cronies & party workers in WCs, defeating the very purpose of Self-Governance.
High Court has ordered BBMP to Consider Names of Applicants for WC Memberships.
The Role of BBMP:
A team of Civic & Bribe-Free Karnataka members met the Mayor on May 16 2017 with
list of Honest Applicants and were promised to be considered.
We also spoke to BBMP commissioner and met Zonal Joint Commissioners, most of whom promised us their co-operation in forming Ward Committees comprising of Honest Socials workers.The top Brass including many JCs are convinced that it is good for BBMP also.
They were informed that it is the BBMP who forms the Ward Committees and Corporators can only suggest names.
While some were happy that they can now curb some powers of Corporators, most were worried about reluctance of Corporators in co-operating. Some also talked about the political pressures that will be used to thwart or influence the whole exercise.
Apathy of some officials:
A Joint Commissioner directed an Applicant to the Corporator, for WC membership.
That was because some officials, especially the Nodal officers at ward levels, are either not aware of their powers of forming WCs or are sure to follow the local Corporator's diktat fearing transfers.
Some find it convenient in maintaining status quo as they too are in cahoots with politicians.
Regardless of the outcome, it is sure that things won't be the same at Ward Levels, especially on developmental activities.
The Public Pressure:
The only way to break this "Neta-Babu Nexus" is to apply public pressure!
As more and more people get to know about their constitutional rights of being part of decision making process at ward level, more the pressure they can exert on Crooked Politicians and Corrupt Officials in forcing them to abide by rules.
Lack of awareness was evident when only 250 applications were received for 1980 posts of WCs. This was brought to the notice of Hon'ble High Court at the hearing on June 1st.
Generating Awareness:
Leaders of Civic & Bribe-Free Karnataka, held a Press Meet, requesting the media in spreading awareness, inviting people to apply for WC membership.
FM Radio Channels too were contacted by BFK team requesting them for awareness generation to their listeners. Press Articles were published in Kannada, English, Hindi and Urdu dailies making readers aware about their rights. A Few FM Radio Channels also supported by airing it on their shows.
Announcements were made at a few Churches & Mosques making community members aware about the opportunity of Participatory Democracy, also asking them to spread awareness among their Friends and Family too.
Few more citizen groups like Citizens for Bengaluru & CAFWA too have pitched in with their support. BPac too has asked its Civic leader to apply also generate awareness.
While all these may sound a lot, we still need to reach out to thousands of Honest Social Workers and invite them to participate in making ward level decisions.
The Legal Options:
We have filed RTIs for List of Names that Corporators propose and also the list that BBMP submits to the HC.
We shall analyze the Lists for each Ward & inform the Court about wrong doings if any. This has been informed to all the JCs with request for them to select candidates with honest background.
All we can do now is to await for BBMP actions and hope they will ensure a clean & corruption free Ward Committees for better Bengaluru.
Helping you Apply:
We have created a Facebook group "BBMP-Ward-Committee", with Application forms and various Information related to WCs.
All you need to do is follow these steps:
We are also have a WhatsApp Group, that you can become part of, for quick resolution of doubts. Please send a message to 95133 87205 to be added.
Conclusion:
Time has come when instead of cursing the Corrupt, we did our bit in ensuring WCs comprising of Honest Citizens get constituted, where it's we the residents who decided how much money is going be to spent on what developmental Works!
Please do share this document to your friends and family for them to spread the word of Swaraj everywhere. There are 10 more Cities in Karnataka that can Get Swaraj through WCs..
We all have come across exorbitantly expensive projects that we know are just excuses to transfer Tax payer's money into Swiss-Bank accounts of politicians. All we end up doing is cursing our system for corruption & move on.
We can stop that now, at-least in Bengaluru!
While Indian Constitution gave us Ward level Swaraj via 74th Amendment 25 years back, Govt of Karnataka amended KMC act in 2011. The act mandates BBMP to form Ward Committees (WC) comprising of 10 Voters, who can Decide Developmental works and Funds utilization in their wards.
As expected, the Political class is resisting, especially the Corporators, as their freedom to splurge our money at their whims and fancies, will be curbed.
While Indian Constitution gave us Ward level Swaraj via 74th Amendment 25 years back, Govt of Karnataka amended KMC act in 2011. The act mandates BBMP to form Ward Committees (WC) comprising of 10 Voters, who can Decide Developmental works and Funds utilization in their wards.
As expected, the Political class is resisting, especially the Corporators, as their freedom to splurge our money at their whims and fancies, will be curbed.
The High Court Order:
Hon'ble High court has ordered BBMP to form Ward Committees.
However, BBMP was unable to complete the task in all 198 wards and had asked for 2 more weeks. It has to do the needful before the next hearing that is on June 28 2017.
Mrs. Kathyayini Chamraj, who has been fighting for it for almost 2 decades, had alerted the Court, about Corporators naming their own cronies & party workers in WCs, defeating the very purpose of Self-Governance.
High Court has ordered BBMP to Consider Names of Applicants for WC Memberships.
The Role of BBMP:
A team of Civic & Bribe-Free Karnataka members met the Mayor on May 16 2017 with
list of Honest Applicants and were promised to be considered.
We also spoke to BBMP commissioner and met Zonal Joint Commissioners, most of whom promised us their co-operation in forming Ward Committees comprising of Honest Socials workers.The top Brass including many JCs are convinced that it is good for BBMP also.
They were informed that it is the BBMP who forms the Ward Committees and Corporators can only suggest names.
While some were happy that they can now curb some powers of Corporators, most were worried about reluctance of Corporators in co-operating. Some also talked about the political pressures that will be used to thwart or influence the whole exercise.
Apathy of some officials:
A Joint Commissioner directed an Applicant to the Corporator, for WC membership.
That was because some officials, especially the Nodal officers at ward levels, are either not aware of their powers of forming WCs or are sure to follow the local Corporator's diktat fearing transfers.
Some find it convenient in maintaining status quo as they too are in cahoots with politicians.
Regardless of the outcome, it is sure that things won't be the same at Ward Levels, especially on developmental activities.
The Public Pressure:
The only way to break this "Neta-Babu Nexus" is to apply public pressure!
As more and more people get to know about their constitutional rights of being part of decision making process at ward level, more the pressure they can exert on Crooked Politicians and Corrupt Officials in forcing them to abide by rules.
Lack of awareness was evident when only 250 applications were received for 1980 posts of WCs. This was brought to the notice of Hon'ble High Court at the hearing on June 1st.
Generating Awareness:
Leaders of Civic & Bribe-Free Karnataka, held a Press Meet, requesting the media in spreading awareness, inviting people to apply for WC membership.
FM Radio Channels too were contacted by BFK team requesting them for awareness generation to their listeners. Press Articles were published in Kannada, English, Hindi and Urdu dailies making readers aware about their rights. A Few FM Radio Channels also supported by airing it on their shows.
Announcements were made at a few Churches & Mosques making community members aware about the opportunity of Participatory Democracy, also asking them to spread awareness among their Friends and Family too.
Few more citizen groups like Citizens for Bengaluru & CAFWA too have pitched in with their support. BPac too has asked its Civic leader to apply also generate awareness.
While all these may sound a lot, we still need to reach out to thousands of Honest Social Workers and invite them to participate in making ward level decisions.
The Legal Options:
We have filed RTIs for List of Names that Corporators propose and also the list that BBMP submits to the HC.
We shall analyze the Lists for each Ward & inform the Court about wrong doings if any. This has been informed to all the JCs with request for them to select candidates with honest background.
All we can do now is to await for BBMP actions and hope they will ensure a clean & corruption free Ward Committees for better Bengaluru.
Helping you Apply:
We have created a Facebook group "BBMP-Ward-Committee", with Application forms and various Information related to WCs.
All you need to do is follow these steps:
- Download application Form by at bit.ly/wcapply
- Fill the form (2 Copies) with your Name, Address, Ward No details and Submit it at BBMP Commissioner's office. Don't forget to take Acknowledgement on one of them.
- Send us above details for us to follow through the BBMP or submit them to the HC court if the need be.
We are also have a WhatsApp Group, that you can become part of, for quick resolution of doubts. Please send a message to 95133 87205 to be added.
Conclusion:
Time has come when instead of cursing the Corrupt, we did our bit in ensuring WCs comprising of Honest Citizens get constituted, where it's we the residents who decided how much money is going be to spent on what developmental Works!
Please do share this document to your friends and family for them to spread the word of Swaraj everywhere. There are 10 more Cities in Karnataka that can Get Swaraj through WCs..
