Nagar Raj Bill faces citizens’ ire
The idea was to institutionalise the citizens’ participation and give them a say in the decision-making process.
The idea was to institutionalise the citizens’ participation and give them a say in the decision-making process. However, the Model Nagar Raj Bill as suggested by the central government and which was passed by the state assembly on Saturday as the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council (Amendment) Act, 2009, tramples on the citizens.
Missing from the bill are components suggested by activist such as election for area sabha representatives, the right to recall them, forming ward committees with representatives as its members and laying down their functions and duties, etc, are absent. Activists said such aspects would create greater transparency and accountability.
Instead, the bill only defines an area sabha, who can be the chairperson and secretary (a municipal employee) of the sabha, and that the municipal commissioner can disqualify an elected representative if a period of more than six month lapses between the two meetings.
“They have made mockery of democracy,” said Surendra Srivastava of Loksatta, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that had strongly pitched for the nagar raj bill. “Citizens do not get anything out of this bill. We will write to the central government about this.”
Corporator Adolf D’Souza, popularly known as the citizens’ corporator, said, “This is not we were told and informed. We anyways have public meetings. Where is the part of citizens’ participation in this?”
Rajkumar Sharma of the Chembur Federation said, “Very simply put, they have given the corporator all the powers that he did not have till now. Do they even take suggestions and objections before making the bill and telling people how it will work?
None of the elected representatives these days have a 51% mandate. Tomorrow if we go to ward officer, he will stop entertaining us saying go to your area sabhas.”
Indrani Malkani, secretary Malabar Hill Resident’s Association, said the bill is a copy of the existing Local Area Coordination Committee, with the only difference being that the corporator will chair the meeting.
Differing from the other activists’ complaint that citizen’s participation will be reduced, she added, “With people from different strata of society, issues requiring a majority will get resolved first. The reduced frequency of meetings will also have an affect but too many meeting is not the answer either. Local people can meet the corporator for follow-ups.”
Those who feel the existing system is better are bemused at the promises made. Anil Bhatia, member, Marine Drive Council and A-Ward Federation, said, “The provisions spoken about do not empower connectivity between citizens and the service authorities concerned with the daily upkeep of the area. Our federation system functions on daily basis and which is better than a nagar bill.”
Missing from the bill are components suggested by activist such as election for area sabha representatives, the right to recall them, forming ward committees with representatives as its members and laying down their functions and duties, etc, are absent. Activists said such aspects would create greater transparency and accountability.
Instead, the bill only defines an area sabha, who can be the chairperson and secretary (a municipal employee) of the sabha, and that the municipal commissioner can disqualify an elected representative if a period of more than six month lapses between the two meetings.
“They have made mockery of democracy,” said Surendra Srivastava of Loksatta, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that had strongly pitched for the nagar raj bill. “Citizens do not get anything out of this bill. We will write to the central government about this.”
Corporator Adolf D’Souza, popularly known as the citizens’ corporator, said, “This is not we were told and informed. We anyways have public meetings. Where is the part of citizens’ participation in this?”
Rajkumar Sharma of the Chembur Federation said, “Very simply put, they have given the corporator all the powers that he did not have till now. Do they even take suggestions and objections before making the bill and telling people how it will work?
None of the elected representatives these days have a 51% mandate. Tomorrow if we go to ward officer, he will stop entertaining us saying go to your area sabhas.”
Indrani Malkani, secretary Malabar Hill Resident’s Association, said the bill is a copy of the existing Local Area Coordination Committee, with the only difference being that the corporator will chair the meeting.
Differing from the other activists’ complaint that citizen’s participation will be reduced, she added, “With people from different strata of society, issues requiring a majority will get resolved first. The reduced frequency of meetings will also have an affect but too many meeting is not the answer either. Local people can meet the corporator for follow-ups.”
Those who feel the existing system is better are bemused at the promises made. Anil Bhatia, member, Marine Drive Council and A-Ward Federation, said, “The provisions spoken about do not empower connectivity between citizens and the service authorities concerned with the daily upkeep of the area. Our federation system functions on daily basis and which is better than a nagar bill.”