Voting: A right or a forced responsibility?

Being a political science student and a social worker, I wonder what voting means. There are certain issues that need mending in order to cast my vote for the Mumbai municipal elections on February 16. Beyond solid waste management and storm drains there are numerous issues a voter faces:

lIllegal hoardings, parking on roads, and uprooted paver blocks covering drains,

Unnecessary honking, violation of pedestrians’ right, driving over pavements to avoid signals.

Use of skywalks for illegal vending & anti-social activities.

The consistent and unnecessary digging up of roads to put up hoardings, pandals in the middle of intersections.

Problem of stray dogs, mice.

Defecation in the open near railway tracks.

Arbitrary refusal by auto-rickshaw drivers during peak hours.

Illegal market places, creating congestion on road and the non-availability of land to to provide people a market place!)

The above points may seem smoothened by reiteration… but these issues are very much a bone of contention between the facilities provided by the MCGM and the cost-effective but illegal ‘functioning’ of the parallel system. I buy vegetables on my way home at a market near the station but not legal! I save time, energy and money, whereas the mercenary officials collect their ‘hafta’ from the vendors as a convenience, later feigning to confiscate the same vending stalls!

It is interesting to note that the MCGM does not have the will to work even though it has the authority and time; and the people do not have the time and energy to complain against such issues in the race to earn their daily bread and butter!

Yet, voting is a testimony of the people’s sovereignty and might that make political parties bow down once in five years.

Voting is a right. Let us not turn it into a forced responsibility! People are not apolitical; they have become vehement due to the obscure political dogmas. The time is ripe to take a step forward. Some steps that can help us take a conscious decision:

Comparison of current and previous election manifestos of all candidates. (shows approach towards issues — dynamic or static)

Conduct of these candidates since the last elections (whether developmental or lax)

The funding received by these candidates and their source or income — where does it come from and how it is utilised (shows transparency in functioning and ethical practices)

Accessibility of the candidate to the public during his tenure. (shows public-friendly nature)

Events attended or sponsored by the candidate during his tenure. (reflects his outlook towards those issues)

Issues traced, handled and resolved during tenure. (shows the prioritising of issues and style of functioning)

The above mentioned criteria will help us judge the candidate and make our vote more influential.

Let us resolve to make our vote felt by taking a conscious decision after thorough reflection. Join various discussion forums, make your presence felt at ‘meet your candidate’ events and use social networking to keep track of the candidates.

It is only the wearer who knows where the shoe pinches. Only voters can judge candidates in the light of the problems they face.