Cities like Hyderabad, which contribute immensely to the country, are denied access to grass root participatory democracy. While the 73rd Amendment gives Gram Sabha to villagers, Hyderabadtes are deprived of the prescription of the 74th Amendment that deals with grass root democracy in urban areas.
Freddie was concerned about the state of his lane. He formed an Area Locality Management unit and attended regular ALM meetings with the ward office. He was distressed by the attitude of the HMC. Most senior officers abstained from the meetings citing excuses of internal discussions and summons from the top. Promises made were flippant and casual. When one senior officer asked him why he was wasting his time in these activities, he felt a deep sense of betrayal. Questioning himself, he wondered what legitimacy he had in this setup.
VoteHyderabad gives Freddie and other citizens a platform to participate legitimately in the governance system. It proposes to ensure that participatory democracy percolates down to the people, so that we, the sovereigns of the country, can finally demand what is rightfully ours, instead of begging, bribing and beseeching for our rights.
Hyderabad consists of 227 corporator wards. If you look at the voter’s list, you will find that there are, on an average, 35 polling booths in each of these. We suggest that the population of one polling booth should form one Area Sabha, consisting of about 1500-2000 people. The Area Sabha will have act as a watchdog, monitoring the activities (see functions of Area Sabha (link to function of area sabha)) of the HMC. This population will elect a candidate amongst themselves, who will represent the Area in a Ward Committee.
If the Area Sabha candidate does not perform he can be recalled thus ensuring regular and good services in every locality of Hyderabad.
Area Sabha candidates constitute the Ward Committees, making them automatically accountable to the Area Sabha. With this setup the urban voter becomes more informed and empowered. Not only active citizens like Freddie, but other Toms, Dicks and Harries will also be induced to participate as the results start becoming apparent.
Area Sabha can also be used a tool to extract information and reduce errors in the voters' lists, the BPL (Below Poverty Line) lists etc. The Area Sabha is an urban parallel of the Gram Sabha. Analysis of studies conducted on the efficacy of Gram Sabhas reveal that they are effective in improving information levels, provide opportunity for marginalised sections and have positive outcomes for the poor while working with rich in the Area Sabhas. Area Sabhas also makes citizens accountable as now the citizens are more involved and informed. |
Freddie participated whole-heartedly in theVoteHyderabad campaign. He, along with others in his locality, were pleased with the success and acceptance of the new city structure. Freddie now had legitimacy in the system. He decided to stand for the Area Sabha elections from his polling booth. Amish, his neighbour was also keen on making a difference in his lane and therefore decided to contest from the same polling booth. Mrs. Nandini Thakkar who lived two buildings away was socially active and decided to stand for the elections. All three began to put in effort to improve their lane.
Freddie, who everyone knew to be an honest and well-meaning citizen, was elected as the Area Sabha candidate. He now represented his area in the ward committee. The following were the changes made in the area: |
Amish, Nandini, Freddie and others in the area now became informed, vigilant citizens.
VoteHyderabad proposes to make such enormous changes in every pocket of the city. An Area Sabha can bring real visible changes in Hyderabad. |
