Ward Committees & Area Sabhas Advocacy

The Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act 1976 was amended in 2011 which provides for the following:- 
•    Constitution of Area Sabhas and Ward Committees.
•    Entrusting functions and duties to the Area Sabha and Ward Committees and 
•    Institutionalizing citizen participation 
What are WARD COMMITTEES (WC)
•    Ward Committee is a group of ten citizens belonging to the ward, that are responsible to report issues, make plans and budgets. WC members can learn about the process of awarding contract & monitor it's implementation. 
•    Ward committees will bring in transparency and accountability to urban local governance. 
•    Monthly public meetings are to be held in each Ward at the ward offices, in which public are allowed to take part.
What are AREA SABHAS (AS)
•    Each area shall comprise the polling area of one or more contiguous polling stations in a ward, but in any case not exceeding total area of five such polling stations
•    Area Sabhas to be held at least once in 3 months
•    All registered voters of the area are members of the area sabhas    

           Numerous requests by many over the past several years were made to MCC Commisioner to setup the Ward Committees & Area Sabhas, but to no avail. So few of us have filed a PIL requesting the same. Few citizens of Bengaluru & Mangaluru also filed the PIL & got a favourable HC order. Now Bengaluru has the ward committee setup in all the wards, Mangaluru is in the process of setting them up. Very soon, Mysuru will also have the WC & AS setup!
           Good governance calls for Transparency, Accountability and Participation. Citizen participation is needed for effective urban governance through Ward Committees & Area Sabhas. For WC & AS to be effective and for citizen participation, we need to spread awareness among the citizens & hence this advocacy group. This group will be given required training.
           Based on these type of activities in the past, some of us may feel pessimistic that nothing may come out of our efforts. Let us be more optimistic and do everything possible to attract the competent and  concerned individuals to get involved in this great democratic experiment.
 

Please sign up if you are interested in ensuring the Ward Committees & Area Sabhas are setup for Mysuru and in making them work!