The price & promise of CITIZENSHIP

As we celebrate India's 60th Republic Day on 26th January 2009, we need to realise that for anyu00a0 country to develop, the citizens need to have pride in their country. This starts with having pride for where you live and work, and what you can do to improve this. Vinay Somani, of Karmayog suggests 10 Action Points for Citizen Groups to take

1. Build involvement and numbers in your citizen group
Make your citizen group an open membership based group (including a nominal annual membership fee), so that involvement amongst members grows, and also for the group to be able to identify its members. Membership fees are important as this gives the group legitimacy, sustainability and a feeling of ownership. Each corporator in Mumbai covers a population area of about 60,000 people, out of which normally only 100 people are active. So, if your citizen group has even 50 active people, your group cannot afford to be ignored by any of the authorities.

2. SMS your corporator
Every time you face some civic problem or observe something wrong in your locality or have a suggestion for improvement, send an SMS to your elected corporator. The mobile numbers of the elected corporators (councillors) are at www.karmayog.org/mumbaiwards/
Remember that BMC / MCGM takes care of the following issues in Mumbai: public health, primary and secondary education, building construction, octroi, garbage, debris, sewage, public toilets, trees, gardens, playgrounds, parks, beaches, lakes, monuments, banners, hoardings, street furniture (railings, benches, etc.), dustbins, footpaths, roads, dividers, pedestrian crossings, nallahs, house-gullies, mosquitos, rats, stray dogs, cattle, hawkers, encroachments, and disaster management. Their website is www.mcgm.gov.in

3. Submit a proposal
Prepare and submit a proposal for your locality's improvement to your local corporator. Each corporator has Rs. 1.4 crore yearly at his / her disposal for such projects.
The proposal should contain details of what, when, where, how, which and why, and should be signed by at least 10 local people. Some ideas for projects include a local library, streamlining hawkers area, medical service centre, beautifying areas under flyovers, jogging track, benches, dustbins, street lighting, proper signage, children's play equipment, night school, community centre, etc.

4. Form a group to monitor all projects in your locality
a) Identify the projects, being implemented by BMC or other agencies e.g. road widening, laying of paver blocks, tree cutting, installing of bus stops, installing of dustbins, etc.
b) Get information about these projects using RTI
c) Take photographs and document the projects
d) Share this information publicly through websites, the media, and your own local newsletter

5. Conduct open house meetings
Invite experienced persons from government to talk to your citizen group. This will help your group get feedback on existing projects as well as to new ideas. This will also lead to bonding of the group, and will help the group to access resources and support, while also understanding how government systems work.

6. Take up simple projects that can be completed
To demonstrate success and keep the group together, take up simple, one-off projects that are possible to do on your own, i.e. without needing too many external resources or people. Start off with a project where everyone is on the same side and where government support is not needed e.g. facilitating outdoor sports activities for children. This helps to build and maintain friendship and cordial relations between each other, even on other difficult issues.

7. Take small steps to reach the larger goal
It is necessary to do smaller, on-the-ground projects and initiatives to develop the understanding needed to succeed with larger goals e.g. just keeping your street clean with the help of the BMC cleaning staff as well as your own private sweepers, and then working with government to implement this for the entire locality based on your learnings.

8. Define achievable end points for your initiatives
Define end points for the projects and initiatives that you take up, and work towards completing them, before starting new ones. As far as possible, have low levels of continuity or extensions for citizen group projects, as most group members can offer support for limited periods only. For instance, the end point of the above 'clean street' project would be where your street is consistently and reasonably clean as a result of your intervention, and your group is able to sustain this comfortably.

9. Join hands with the local school or college
Involve the students of the locality school or college in the projects and initiatives of your citizen group. This helps creates awareness, acceptance, as well as enables the group to have creative, energetic and enthusiastic student volunteers, who are also able to bring in much-needed current communication and technical skills to the citizen group.

10. Be proactive in all elections
Your citizen group must select and support someone in every election that is conducted. This will help you to understand the election process, as well as have a stake in governance, especially if the candidate supported by your group wins.

Conclusion
A city is what it is because the citizens are what they are. People from across India look to Mumbai and her citizens to provide inspiration and leadership in improving India.

Do give your feedback to
info@karmayog.org
www.karmayog.org lists over 2000 volunteers and service providers