Maharashtra Legislative Assemble passes bill on people's participation through formation of Area Sabhas

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On March 8th, the Maharashtra state government (Cabinet) finally (after dithering for years  despite  push  by Union Govt under JNNURM) ushered in the urban governance reforms by setting up the following through Model Nagar Raj Bill:

1.    Local Self Government with legitimate platform for people's participation – AREA SABHA AT POLLING BOOTH FOOT PRINT

2.    Decentralization and democratization of executive branch of local government – WARD COMMITTEES AT EVERY COUNCILOR WARD.

Similarly PUBLIC DISCLOSURE LAW has been passed by Maharashtra State assembly in their recent session at Nagpur to make the Municipal Governance transperent.

A lot of hard work, commitment and in-depth research by the core team of Lok Satta Movement under the guidance of Dr.Jayprakash Narayan with citizens' support have lead to this achievement. While this can be seen a step in the correct direction but Lok Satta Movement aspires and will continue to push further the government so that all the recommendations of "Vote Mumbai Campaign"  (launched on 28th June, 2006) including those as out lined in the 6th report of second administration reforms commission shall be implemented in true letter and spirit. The Second Administration Reforms Commission (ARC) has five members and was appointed by the Prime Minister and is headed by Mr. Veerapa Moily, former Karnatka CM. Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan - Lok Satta Movement's leader was one of the members of the commission.

The roots of this trace back to the period when Lok Satta Movement started its analysis and research. Finding the current municipal structure outdated and inefficient, it not only pointed out the flaws in the system but also proposed a suitable and effective solution to this.

In order to sensitise and involve citizens at large, Volunteers of Lok Satta Movement tirelessly worked and distributed more than 4 lakh pamphlets in Mumbai alone. Awareness was created among the people by conducting presentations (Few hundreds), talking to politicians & officials, human chain, college debates, street plays and signature campaign (More than 5,50,000) etc.

With the intention of involving the youth an Inter Collegiate Debate Competition was organized that gave a platform for the young generation to voice their opinions on the current  municipal  system. Mr. Javed Akhtar a noted film personality presided the finals of the debate on 29th Jan, 2007 in presence of many luminaries including Mr. Shyam Benegal  noted film personality, Dr. Jairaj Phatak - Current Municiapl Commissioner, Mr. Ajit Jain - Principle Secretary Maharashtra, Mr. Narayan Varma - Trustee PCGT, Mr. Bhawesh Gandhi - Industrialist, Ms. Ranjona Banerji - DNA, Mr. Anil Singh - TOI and others. 

On July 26^th 2006, Lok Satta Movement successfully launched the  HUMAN CHAIN between Churchgate and Mantralaya, Mumbai inviting all citizens to be part of this campaign. 4500 children participated and submitted a petition to Hon CM and Dy. CM.

A detailed presentation was given to about 90 corporator led by then Mayor Shri Datta Dalvi. During the presenation, all queries from them explained in detail and to their satisfaction.

Various delegations of Lok Satta Movement met the CM, Dy. CM, Leaders of opposition parties like Shri Uddhav Thackeray, Shri Gurudas Kamath, Shri Nitin Gadkari and Shri Raj Thackeray and gave them detailed presentations on Mumbai Municipal Reforms and obtained an assurance from them for pushing these reforms. Letter of appeal with detailed reasoning were written to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Hon. Prime Minister by Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, National Cordinator of Lok Satta Movement and to CM, Dy CM, Leaders of all political parties by Advocate Anant Shende Maharashtra Chapter Coordinator.

As a part of the Vote Mumbai campaign, Lok Satta Movement sponsored a Citizens Consensus Candidate to contest the BMC elections and he won by spending just Rs. 75000 !! The model of Lok Satta Movement advocated model of Ward Committee and Area Sabha is informally operational in Juhu (electoral ward 63).

Within two year of Vote Mumbai Campaign's launch by Lok Satta Movement, the outcome is in front of the people with the State Government deciding to accept and implement the reforms. We thank all politicians particularly Shri Milind Deora, Shri Suresh Prabhu, Mrs. Supriya Sule and Shri Vinod Tawade, bureaucrats, police officials, various civil society organisations, Media, Lok Satta Movement - Yuva Satta Volunteers and public for overwhelming support for this campaign.

PHOTOS of all activities of the campaign can be seen at:

http://www.votemumbai.org/photo.asp

VIDEOS of the Vote Mumbai campaign in electronic media can be seen at: http://www.votemumbai.org/media.asp

Kudos to the entire team of Lok Satta Movement!!!!!!!!

This success is a feather in the cap for the Lok Satta Movement. It brings to the fore, power of the citizens involvement in a Democracy and also a realization of the long and persistent struggle needed to bring about effective governance.

We commit our selves that we will pursue urban governance reforms cause till all the reforms are implemented in correct letter and spirit as per "Vote Mumbai Campaign" and as out lined in the 6th report of Administrative Reforms Commission. 

Thanks & Regards

Geetha Rajan

Volunteer

Yuva Satta The Youth wing of Lok Satta Movement

www.loksattamovement.org