We often wonder what happens to the crores of rupees spent by municipalities for various purposes when there is no betterment in our cities.

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the administrative body responsible for the civic and infrastructural assets of the Greater Bangalore metropolitan area., spends Rs 750 crore alone on the Bengaluru’s waste management.

However, the big announcements about improvements to city and sanitation and road works do not seem to translate to what Bengaluru’s citizens experience every day. In spite of having a Rs 9247 crore budget, the people commonly face pothole-riddled roads, garbage-filled drainages, hoardings that blind signals and routes, filth and mosquitoes, ever-ending road-digging, etc.

What can the citizens of Bengaluru do?

The 74th Constitutional Amendment (Nagarapalika Act) gave an opportunity for the ordinary citizens of Bengaluru to participate actively in monitoring and prioritising the development work in the wards along with the corporator of the said area through ward committees.

1. You can attend the monthly Ward Committee Meetings and contribute in making decisions about Ward Development activities and Expenditure Patterns.
2. Bring suggestions and issues and put the same in front of other WC members for them to make an informed decision and provide the most efficient solution.
3. Spread awareness about decisions taken and take people’s feedback, apart from explaining them reasons for taking those decisions.
4. You become part of the 3rd tier of governance as per the 74th Amendment of Indian Constitution.
   

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How to apply for the BBMP Ward Committee?

1. Download the application form by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/wcapply
2. Fill the form (2 copies) and submit it to BBMP’s commissioner’s office. One person can submit many forms, so all need not go there. Take acknowledgement on one copy.
3. Send the details of the Applicant in the following format to submit the list of all applicants to BBMP and High Court if required: Name, Ward No, Category(SC/ST), Educational qualification, Years of Social Service, and Area, Mobile No.
   

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Who can apply?

1. As per KMC Act 2011, ANYONE with the name in the Voters List can apply.
2. High Court has ordered BBMP officials to consider names of those who apply.
3. Lists cannot be finalised without taking into account names of those who applied.

The submissions should be sent before 16 June 2017.

For further assistance, you can WhatsApp 9513387205.

Governance works best if it is delivered at the doorstep we cannot possibly engage with foreign policy or monetary policy, but we certainly can make our presence felt in the area we live in. Let us use this opportunity to get civic minded responsible citizens into our ward committees.

Above information was taken from Citizens for Bengaluru Facebook group.