While the political parties are busy campaigning keeping the upcoming assembly elections in mind, resident welfare associations and citizen collectives in Bengaluru have also upped their game.
As reported earlier, in order to achieve favourable outcomes post the elections irrespective of the results, these apolitical citizen groups are creating and deliberating on issues like common minimum programs, which they expect from their current and aspiring MLAs.
Leading the way, IChangeIndiranagar, a collective of eight Indira Nagar and surrounding RWAs met on Saturday to sort out their key demands. Among those present were men and women across age groups who came in large numbers. On their request, retired Justice Santosh Hegde mentored them in refining their citizen’s charter.
The localities fall under two constituencies— Shanti Nagar and CV Raman Nagar.
Majority of the issues which came up were local civic, environmental and mobility issues but the most common demand is enforcement of zonal regulations. The collective has been up in arms against the illegal mushrooming of commercial entities, including pubs in the area.
They also highlighted their demand for participatory budgeting, functioning Ward Committees and decentralised waste processing, sewage treatment facilities.
For example, some residents do not want any more bore wells or illegal tankers to operate in their area, rather they want recharge wells to be created.
Praveen, a member of the collective said, ”These issues will be taken up with the candidates once the parties announce their names.”
Other demands include maintenance of open spaces and curbs on illegal vehicle parking.
Similarly, residents of Bommanahalli constituencies also met under Bangalore Political Action Committee’s My Constituency My Manifesto campaign.
The issue of stench from the Karnataka Composting Development Corporation (KCDC) unit was the focal point of discussions.
“We have listed a few of our demands and discussed in detail. The key issues were encroachment of public spaces and roads, lakes, improving inner layout traffic situation, the introduction of feeder services,” Krishna Kumar, a member of KHHSP told TNM.
KHHSP is a citizen collective of Kudlu, Hosapalya, HSR Layout, Somasundarapalya and Parangipalya.
“Water related issues like incidents of mixing up of sewage water and Cauvery were also discussed,” he added.
After the candidates of all major parties are announced, the residents will also have a question and answer session with them.