‘Corporators should be accessible’
Shawan Sen I TNN Times of India Network. 23rd Jan 2012
Mumbai: Political parties can plaster the city with posters proclaiming development projects undertaken by them, but for citizens an ideal corporator is all about accessibility and transparency.
A cross-section of voters, from those residing in posh high-rises to families living in chawls, TOI spoke to was unequivocal in its demand: “We want our corporators to meet us and be our voice.”
The best solution as of date is http://mumbai227.com/
which promotes ordinary citizens who have shown a track record of achievements in the past.
Prominent among such candidates is Harish Pandey from Dahisar Ward no. 1. His achievements can be seen on www.newlinkroad.wordpress.com where the last few year’s struggles are written.
Writer Asghar Ali Engineer, who served in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as an engineer for 20 years, said, “Corporators no longer think about solving civic issues. Instead, they concentrate more on vote -banks. No wonder the city has bad roads and irregular water supply. This explains the mushrooming of citizens’ groups and the apathy towards the corporation.”
Engineer’s views were echoed by Ashish Shah, a resident of F Road, Marine Drive. “Today, advanced locality managements (ALMs) and citizens’ groups play the role of corporators. There is very little awareness about the role of a corporator. Citizens as well as corporators are to be blamed for the current situation. If people living in societies do not come out and vote, it is because the Corporators do not feel that they are an important vote bank. A good corporator should be more transparent and accessible.”
Unlike parliamentarians and legislators, corporators are directly responsible for issues at the city level—roads, public transport, water supply and slum improvement, to name a few. Corporators can highlight civic issues and mobilize funds for amenities in their wards. They also deliberate on proposals floated by thecivic administration. A Corporator, therefore, plays an important role in improving the citizens’ quality of life.
Over the years, civic elections have come to be touted as mini general elections and the money spent during campaigns has increased manifold. According to political pundits, money power and vote-bank politics have become essential elements of civic elections.
“The idea of a Corporator serving the people has changed and become a money-spinning industry,” said Engineer. The feeling of resentment towards corporators runs through voters from all strata of society. Construction worker from Malad (W) Aalam Shaikh is fed up of false promises. “Why make promises if they (corporators) cannot deliver? All their talk of slum improvement has yielded no result,” said Shaikh, who has been voting in all the elections and is determined to get his finger inked this February too.
Unlike Shaikh, Anthony Joseph Fernandes, a resident of Garib Janta Park in Colaba, has lost faith in the system. “I have been exercising my franchise for so many years but will not vote this time. What is the point? The corporators do not work for our betterment.”
BJP corporator Yogesh Sagar said, “It is true that a few corporators win elections due to their party’s vote-bank and they may continue doing so for a few terms. But if they pay no heed to their voters, they will eventually lose.”
Why Corporators Are Important For City
Roads, bridges, footpaths The civic body looks after the city’s road network (around 1,900 km), bridges and footpaths Water supply The BMC is responsible for providing clean and potable water Drainage Stormwater drains are to be maintained by the civic body Garbage The civic body has to collect garbage and dispose it at dumping grounds Education Several schools are run by the BMC. It also controls private schools to an extent by way of giving recognition and registration Health It must provide basic health facilities as well as prevent the spread of diseases
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