Pressure group formed to take up public causes

Bandlaguda: A ‘pressure group’ involving social activists, doctors, teachers and RTI activists is gearing up to formally set up an organisation to create awareness among the general public about power of their vote. These ‘concerned citizens’ held their first ever meeting in Bandlaguda towards achieving the intended objective and to ensure that voters know the real value of their vote and draw benefits from existing schemes.

Speaking to The Hans India, B Rajender Singh, president of Teachers Academic Club, which has organised the first ever meeting of the ‘Citizens Council’, said that the aim of the initiative is to ensure that Citizen Council is formed in each of the MP constituency to ensure there is transparency in budget spending. Each of the MP gets planning budget of Rs 70 crore, similarly each of the Assembly constituency and even at the corporator level, budget is provided for planning, which is rarely spent.

“Each year due to lack of spending on infrastructure and welfare schemes, the funds remained unutilized. We wish that the funds allocated to public representatives should be spent on welfare of the people within the stipulated time. Through this body we will ensure that elected representatives are pursued so that public welfare schemes are implemented properly,” he said.

Media reports indicate that complete funds of rupees five crore for each Parliamentarian available under MPLADS (Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) have been spent only in 35 Lok Sabha constituencies out of a total 543 with West Bengal topping the list with ten such constituencies. Out of that, Rs 12,000 crore funds of MPLADs have remained unutilised since the 14th Lok Sabha was constituted in 2004.

Shiraz Khan, activist and politician, leading committee member of council, said that the group will focus on campaigning and generating awareness amongst the masses about the power of their vote. “Currently, the Citizen Council is aiming to spread its network throughout the City and in future it may spread across the country.

“Schemes are announced by the government, but most of the people do not know what kind of benefits they can draw from the schemes and ironically some schemes are not known to the people. Hence, we shall be going to the masses with the clear message and discussing with them about the budget and schemes,” she added.

Dr Mumtaz Sultana, a Gulf returnee and one of the leading committee members, said that since the government was collecting taxes the funds allocated for welfare schemes should be spent properly. “We shall be generating awareness amongst general public so that they are aware that despite fund allocation, these schemes are not being implemented. This will be the platform for people to ensure their grievances are heard,” she explained.

Youngsters Md Irfan Quadri, Javeed Ansari, Dr Md Mahmood, who joined the bandwagon were of the same opinion that more transparency was needed in governance. “People vote and also pay taxes, but in return they receive nothing of that sort, which they actually deserve. We hope that there should be camp office for each of the public representative, so that people remain in contact and their grievances are addressed,” said Irfan.