MANGALURU: The city residents have launched an online petition urging the urban local body to expedite the process of forming ward committees in 60 wards of Mangaluru City Corporation.
In fact, the city corporation had invited applications from citizens to participate as members of the ward committees. Nearly 1,300 people had applied to become ward committee members. The city corporation must nominate 10 members, including one representative each from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe, three women, two representatives from civic groups and three from general category for the ward committees, in each of the 60 wards. Arun D’Souza, who started the petition to MCC commissioner Akshy Sridhar through change.org, has demanded that the ward committees be formed in 60 wards of the city corporation immediately.
“52 Signatures in 24 hours! We are getting strong support from the community, please continue to share widely to ensure the MCC hears from the people,” D’Souza appealed people.
“Formation of ward committee at the earliest is vital part of the true progress in Mangalore as it will help avoid siphoning off money for untoward projects which don’t benefit the citizens,” commented Hilda Pais.
When contacted, MCC commissioner Akshy Sridhar told TOI that the city corporation is sorting out applications based on reservations since each Ward Committee should consist of members from various sections of the society. “We are scrutinising all applications received in each ward based on reservation,” the commissioner said.
He said the members of the ward committee should be the permanent residents of the respective wards. “We cannot appoint citizens as members of a ward committee if they are not residents of the particular ward. We are expediting the process and will finalise it soon,” he added.