DNA: Mumbai: Saturday, May 25, 2019.
TRANSPARENCY NEEDED: Elected representatives should meet public every 3 months, other than their party workers.
The elections are over but the real work for voters and politicians starts now. Citizens should ensure they regularly meet their elected representatives (corporator, MLAs and MPs) and update them on public needs. Activists feel this approach will help in bringing about more transparency and accountability. Also, politicians will be in a better position to understand the needs of citizens and prioritise work accordingly.
"Citizens should meet them at least once every three months. It should also be ensured that they stick to their domain and not get into local issues. It will be a good start if the citizens know what issues they should be raising with an MP, corporator and MLA," said D M Sukthankar, chairman AGNI, a body that takes up citizens' issues.
Some of the issues that citizens can take up with the elected representatives include commuter woes on the Mumbai suburban rail network, funds and special assistance from the Centre for Mumbai makeover, issues related to income tax and GST among other issues. Activists opine that apart from highlighting the issues, people should also do regular follow-ups with the elected representative from their areas. They should remind the representatives of their party manifesto and proper implementation of government schemes and laws. "Unless a law is to be made that requires their party to be in power, all MPs should be asked to fulfil the promises made in their party manifestos. They cannot say it is party's job to do. There are Acts like Right to Information and state legislations like Act 21 of 2006 in Maharashtra, which is about timely file movement. I am sure if we talk to our MPs on these issues, they will be forthcoming and ensuring that these laws are adhered to and followed," said Shailesh Gandhi, former central information commissioner adding that MPs who do not respond should be shamed in public.
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