In a country where everyone wants to enjoy every moment of democracy, but doesn't want to vote, several community-based campaign are sensitising people about their most potent right. Here's taking a look at the most prominent ones
Bonding over votes
In a country where everyone wants to enjoy every moment of democracy, but doesn't want to vote, several community-based campaign are sensitising people about their most potent right. Here's taking a look at the most prominent ones
This time, it hasn't been easy for politicians to hide their fault and woo voters with bogus promises. That's 
because, several associations through campaigns have been encouraging people to scrutinise their candidates and then decide whether they deserve to represent them or not. We take a look.
Swaraj is my birthright >>
A cabinet of 70 people, that too in a coalition government, can't efficiently run government without public participation. We say that the government is chosen by us, but have absolutely no control over their decision.
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Lok Raj Andolan, a poll campaign, demands that the representation and participation of common citizen should be increased in the decision-making processes of the government. Kapil Bajaj, activist, Lok Raj Andolan, says, "Ours is not a democracy in the true sense, because it's indirect. If you think your MP is not working efficiently, do you have the right to remove him? No, because as a common man, you're powerful just once in five years.
We want direct democracy to be implemented where a citizen has the right to question and hold local leaders accountable for their misdeeds at all times. And without this, democracy is just an external facade for autocracy."
The campaign activists, who meet every Sunday, have also formulated a Swaraj bill that would transfer control of local area funds, functions and functionaries to the citizens of the area. It aims to decentralise decision-making, distribute executive power to the citizen and ensure accountability of the bureaucracy.
This will be achieved by creating small units of cohesive citizens' assemblies Gram Sabha in rural areas and Mohalla Sabha in urban areas. Each assembly, according to this bill, will meet monthly and collectively take decisions, binding on the bureaucracy. Assemblies will have complete control over assets/functions and institutionalized channels for influencing decisions on larger issues with local implications. Each assembly will receive a significant percentage of state or municipal annual budget funds.
To join, log on to www.lokrajandolan.org
Criminals, stay away >>
We, the citizens of India are accustomed to the presence of members with criminal background in the parliament a bitter truth with which we have lived for over 60 years of independence.
At the same time, we have got used to frequent terrorists' attack, corruption, booth capturing and power of the gun. However, it's time that we sanitise politics by first pressuring politicians to stop giving tickets to candidates with criminal backgrounds, and then by persuading people to vote for contestants with clean and clear police record. No Criminals, launched by the Forum for Clean Politics under the Public Interest Foundation, is a new e-age campaign that's working to shut the Parliament's doors for criminals.
Through blogs, SMSes and social networking sites, it's working to keep miscreants out. Dr Bimal Jalan, Chairman, Public Interest Foundation and former RBI governor, at its launch, had said, "Criminals are the safest bet, because they have higher winnability. But it's time that we make wrong people feel that they are wrong; they don't deserve to be a part of the government." According to the data provided by National Election Watch, of the 543 MPs in the Lok Sabha, 128 have "confessed" to cases pending amongst them in various courts of the country. There are 24 charges of murder or attempted murder among various accusations.
To verify the background of your MP, sms NC PINCODE to 567678
To register, log on to www.nocriminals.orgu00a0
Complain only if you vote >>
For a safe India, for an accountable government, for better roads, for a sound education system and enough employment opportunities there are enough reasons for you to vote.u00a0 Let's Vote is a citizen campaign that's working to increase awareness about the need to vote. You can pledge to vote at its portal, which allows you to download several poll related forms, and provides answers to several electoral questions.u00a0
To register, chat and view discussion board, visit www.letsvote.in
Time to wake up, folks >>
The oldest in the breed of poll movement is Jaago Re! It is a nationwide movement launched to awaken and enable the citizens of India, especially the youth, to register for voting. Operating across India's top 35 cities, the campaign has successfully convinced people that if you need your right, you have to vote. The initiative has rolled out some good television commercials, and its web presence has added to its popularity. Isn't it high time you knew ek vote ki keemat?
To register, log on to www.jaagore.com
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