MANGALURU: Civic activists in Mangaluru have decided to monitor the nomination process for the ward committees to be set up in 60 wards of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC).
Representatives of MCC Civic Group, Nagarika Shakti and many other like-minded organisations decided to meet MCC commissioner and mayor to ensure that the process of appointment of citizens for the ward committees is transparent. While November 17 was the last date for citizens to submit application for the ward committee membership, activists wanted to ensure that 10-member ward committees will be set up in all the wards.
Meanwhile MCC extended the last date for submission of application for ward committee membership to December 4. MCC commissioner Akshy Sridhar stated in a press release that people may submit applications till 5.30pm on December 4.
Narendra Kumar, activist of Nagarika Shakti, told reporters that people need to monitor the nomination process for the setting up of ward committees in MCC. “The bitter experience of BBMP, where commissioner receiving over 500 applications, but nominating only five persons should not repeat in Mangaluru. We need to ensure that all applicants get nominated. We have been tirelessly working to ensure that people should get participation in local governance. Several meetings and awareness programmes have been organised to make this possible,” he said.
When the civic body failed to notify area sabhas in Mangaluru, a PIL was filed in the high court. Later, following the directions of the high court, only 120 area sabhas were notified, which is less when compared to the population of each ward. Each ward in MCC should have at least four to five area sabhas, he added.
Activist Nigel Albuquerque of MCC Civic Group said if the MCC does not receive 600 applications for 60 ward committees, then people will have to accept what the corporator of the area dictates. “It is the ward committee members who have the power to decide what works should be taken up. If we fail to get more than 600 applications for ward committee members, it is difficult to bring accountability in governance,” he added.
Activist Padmanabha Ullal said, “Every citizen of the ward has the right to take part in area sabha meetings and speak about development works.”