The price & promise of CITIZENSHIP
As we celebrate India’s 60th Republic Day on 26th January 2009, we need to
realise that for any country to develop, the citizens need to have pride in
their country. This starts with having pride for where you live and work,
and what you can do to improve this. Vinay Somani, of Karmayog suggests 10
Action Points for Citizen Groups to take
1. Build involvement and numbers in your citizen group
Make your citizen group an open membership based group (including a nominal
annual membership fee), so that involvement amongst members grows, and also
for the group to be able to identify its members. Membership fees are
important as this gives the group legitimacy, sustainability and a feeling
of ownership. Each corporator in Mumbai covers a population area of about
60,000 people, out of which normally only 100 people are active. So, if your
citizen group has even 50 active people, your group cannot afford to be
ignored by any of the authorities.
2. SMS your corporator
Every time you face some civic problem or observe something wrong in your
locality or have a suggestion for improvement, send an SMS to your elected
corporator. The mobile numbers of the elected corporators (councillors) are
at www.karmayog.org/mumbaiwards/
Remember that BMC / MCGM takes care of the following issues in Mumbai:
public health, primary and secondary education, building construction,
octroi, garbage, debris, sewage, public toilets, trees, gardens,
playgrounds, parks, beaches, lakes, monuments, banners, hoardings, street
furniture (railings, benches, etc.), dustbins, footpaths, roads, dividers,
pedestrian crossings, nallahs, house-gullies, mosquitos, rats, stray dogs,
cattle, hawkers, encroachments, and disaster management. Their website is
www.mcgm.gov.in
3. Submit a proposal
Prepare and submit a proposal for your locality’s improvement to your local
corporator. Each corporator has Rs. 1.4 crore yearly at his / her disposal
for such projects.
The proposal should contain details of what, when, where, how, which and
why, and should be signed by at least 10 local people. Some ideas for
projects include a local library, streamlining hawkers area, medical service
centre, beautifying areas under flyovers, jogging track, benches, dustbins,
street lighting, proper signage, children’s play equipment, night school,
community centre, etc.
4. Form a group to monitor all projects in your locality
a) Identify the projects, being implemented by BMC or other agencies e.g.
road widening, laying of paver blocks, tree cutting, installing of bus
stops, installing of dustbins, etc.
b) Get information about these projects using RTI
c) Take photographs and document the projects
d) Share this information publicly through websites, the media, and your own
local newsletter
5. Conduct open house meetings
Invite experienced persons from government to talk to your citizen group.
This will help your group get feedback on existing projects as well as to
new ideas. This will also lead to bonding of the group, and will help the
group to access resources and support, while also understanding how
government systems work.
6. Take up simple projects that can be completed
To demonstrate success and keep the group together, take up simple, one-off
projects that are possible to do on your own, i.e. without needing too many
external resources or people. Start off with a project where everyone is on
the same side and where government support is not needed e.g. facilitating
outdoor sports activities for children. This helps to build and maintain
friendship and cordial relations between each other, even on other difficult
issues.
7. Take small steps to reach the larger goal
It is necessary to do smaller, on-the-ground projects and initiatives to
develop the understanding needed to succeed with larger goals e.g. just
keeping your street clean with the help of the BMC cleaning staff as well as
your own private sweepers, and then working with government to implement
this for the entire locality based on your learnings.
8. Define achievable end points for your initiatives
Define end points for the projects and initiatives that you take up, and
work towards completing them, before starting new ones. As far as possible,
have low levels of continuity or extensions for citizen group projects, as
most group members can offer support for limited periods only. For instance,
the end point of the above ‘clean street’ project would be where your street
is consistently and reasonably clean as a result of your intervention, and
your group is able to sustain this comfortably.
9. Join hands with the local school or college
Involve the students of the locality school or college in the projects and
initiatives of your citizen group. This helps creates awareness, acceptance,
as well as enables the group to have creative, energetic and enthusiastic
student volunteers, who are also able to bring in much-needed current
communication and technical skills to the citizen group.
10. Be proactive in all elections
Your citizen group must select and support someone in every election that is
conducted. This will help you to understand the election process, as well as
have a stake in governance, especially if the candidate supported by your
group wins.
Conclusion
A city is what it is because the citizens are what they are. People from
across India look to Mumbai and her citizens to provide inspiration and
leadership in improving India.
Do give your feedback to info@karmayog.org
www.karmayog.org – lists over 2000 volunteers and service providers