PARTICIPATORY BUDGET: Citizens unite to file suggestions in bulk

It has been observed that various citizen groups are filing suggestions regarding Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) participatory budget in bulk this year. Following the various workshops on participatory budget organised by dna and NGO Janwani, citizens are made aware of the importance of filing suggestions in bulk as it will have more impact on carrying out development works in their respective areas.

Activists said that citizens are actively taking part in the participatory budget scheme for the first time this year after it was launched by PMC seven years ago. Civic officials said that most of the around 3,300 suggestions that were received through participatory budget last year were scattered and not in bulk.
However, the campaign started by dna and Janwani has changed the picture this year.

Mohalla committees and other citizen groups have started holding public meetings in their respective areas. They are not only prioritising the works to be done in their area but are also filing suggestions in bulk.

The members of NIBM Road Residents Forum (NRRF) are filing bulk suggestions.

Alka Kapoor of NRRF said, “The three wards under NRRF have various demands. The residents of ward number 62 have demanded maintenance of garden in Kondhwa Khurd area. They also want jogging track with plantation at the side of the tracks and road dividers from Jyoti Restaurant till NIBM circle.”

The residents of Bavdhan area that managed to get their demands accepted by the civic administration in the previous budget have decided to file more suggestions in bulk this time.
Neelkanth Bajaj of Bavdhan Jyeshth Nagarik Sangh said, “This year, we want PMC to carry out repairs of street lights in the area, mend footpaths from Ramnagar to Chandni Chowk area and build six bus stops on Bavdhan Road. We have asked our members to go to their respective residential societies and urge residents to file more suggestions,”

Aundh Vikas Mandal members are also campaigning in their respective areas to help citizens file suggestions in bulk. Their four common works in their area include public toilets, bus stop refurbishment, bus routes with timings, footpaths and steel bollards on footpaths to prevent parking. They are determined to file maximum applications by September 21, the last date to file suggestions.