Your locality needs your voice

You as the voter are all supreme when it comes to deciding the fate of politicians and their aspirations to run governments and local self-government bodies. Howsoever cynical one may get, your solitary vote is precious.

Many citizens, especially the urban middle class and the elite, think it is worthless. Therefore, they don’t bother to register themselves as voters or exercise their franchise, which constitutes the cornerstone of our democracy.

It is this folly that has contributed to cynicism when it comes to elections and voting. Since the talking class and the debating societies just criticise but don’t vote, our cities don’t see the change that we desire intensely.  Why is it that your voice is not heard when it comes to demanding proper planning, transparency and accountability in the affairs of the municipal corporation? Why is it that the most pressing needs of your locality never get the priority it deserves? Is it because you have failed to assert yourself as a voter? 

We as citizens owe it to our children, if not to ourselves, to aspire for better cities, with better systems for mass transport,
equitable distribution of water, safety on the roads, parks to play in and decent footpaths and pedestrian crossings for our senior citizens to walk on. 

Speaking of our city, the need for these basic civic amenities is felt more deeply in the fringe areas of Pune and the ever-expanding corners, where property prices are relatively low and civic amenities at their worst. Change won’t happen dramatically, but a beginning can be made by stepping out to vote, when the time comes, and asserting oneself democratically.