Press Releases Archive

Lok Satta manifesto promises Rs.1000 per capita grant at ward level

The Lok Satta Party is promising citizen-centric governance in its manifesto for the 2014 municipal elections.

In its election manifesto released by the Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan here today, the party points out that although people pay taxes and elect representatives to govern them, their living conditions in towns and cities continue to be deplorable. There is no guaranteed supply of safe drinking water. Sanitation is neglected. Roads remain pot-holed and streets, dark. Education and healthcare in Government-run institutions are not attended to. Corruption is all-pervasive.

The Lok Satta Party underscores that the sole reason for this state of affairs lies in centralization of power at the national and State capitals. Not even 25 percent of funds allocated for various schemes and programs percolate to citizens.

The party says the remedy lies in taking administration to the door-step of people. Thanks to an agitation by the Lok Satta, a law has been enacted providing for formation of ward committees. But it remains a dead letter with no steps having been taken to implement it.

The Lok Satta Party manifesto envisages formation of ward committees and an annual per capita grant of Rs.1000. As a result, a ward committee representing a population of 4000 will get a grant of Rs.2 crore in five years.

The ward committee will formulate a development plan, supervise maintenance of drinking water supply, sanitation, roads, lights, libraries, parks, playgrounds, schools, healthcare institutions and anganwadis. It will safeguard Government properties from encroachments. It will ensure that beneficiaries of Government schemes for housing, pensions, subsidies etc are chosen through areas sabhas. Ward committees will supervise implementation of all Government schemes at the ward level.

The Lok Satta Party promises institution of community policing to prevent thefts and robberies and atrocities against women at the ward level. It will unveil citizen’s charters under which civic bodies have to deliver time-bound services like approval of building plans, provision of water supply connections and issuance of certificates with provision for a penalty of Rs.200 per day as compensation to the aggrieved for delays. It will ensure that citizens have the right to information in municipal matters.

To prevent corruption, it will usher in transparency in all purchases, and ensure that payments to contractors are made only after thorough evaluation of works. It will enable people to watch municipal proceedings by providing for a public gallery in council halls.

The Lok Satta Party will also strive for amending laws to provide for recall of elected councillors/corporators.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 16:07

Judiciary too is guilty of delaying Local body elections: Dr.JP

Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan said today that successive Governments, Legislatures and even the highest judiciary of the land have failed to honor both the letter and spirit of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments mandating elections to local bodies before the conclusion of their five-year term.

Releasing the party’s manifesto for municipal elections in Andhra Pradesh, Dr. JP said Governments might have a vested interest in postponing elections but he could not understand why even the Judiciary had been tardy in enforcing what is ordained in the Constitution. The judiciary’s interminable delays even on core provisions of the Constitution are reprehensible, he added.

Dr. JP said that municipal, ZPTC and MPTC elections are being held in Andhra Pradesh only as a matter of ritual. Yet, people should take the elections seriously since resolution of their day-to-day problems is intertwined with those whom they are going to elect. They should set aside affiliations to parties since all parties in the State are virtually dead.

Dr. JP recalled that the State Legislature had adopted the nearly Rs.1.85-lakh crore annual budget by a voice vote without any discussion. It involves a per capita expenditure of Rs.22000. If a mere Rs.1000 per capita is funneled to elected ward committees, people can get their immediate problems addressed without their having to knock at legislators’ and minister’s doors. The situation in the State now is so pathetic that a file relating to the transfer of even a primary school teacher has to be cleared by the Chief Minister. A ward in Hyderabad with a population of an average 60000 people will benefit to the extent of Rs. 30 crore in five years, if the Lok Satta proposal on per capita grant is conceded.

Rs. 1000 percapita grant at the Ward or Panchayat level, citizen’s charters for time bound services with a penalty for delays, and local ombudsmen to curb corruption are the core agenda items of Lok Satta in local elections.

Dr. JP disclosed that the Lok Satta has taken up with the 14th Finance Commission the proposal for direct devolution of a part of funds meant for States to elected ward committees in towns and villages.

Dr. JP said that the credit for crafting the municipal election manifesto goes to Vice President D. V. V. S. Varma and a dedicated party team.

Mr. Varma said that the Lok Satta is promoting direct democracy by making people partners in administration through ward committees and area sabhas.

State party President Katari Srinivasa Rao said that the party has so far decided to field candidates in 110 municipalities and 8 corporations.

He disclosed that he had to make Herculean efforts to get his name enrolled in the voter’s list as he found his name deleted. He had contested three elections and carried a voter card for eight years. The plight of ordinary citizens in registering themselves as voters could be imagined if such a fate had befallen him, he added.

Replying to a question, Dr. JP said that in the present confusing environment in the State, the Lok Satta Party has decided to contest only a limited number of seats in the ensuing elections to the Assembly. It is prepared for agenda based electoral adjustments, he added.

Replying to another question, he said it was strange that a Jai Samaikhya Andhra Party is springing up although the division of the State is a done deal. He said the Lok Satta always stood for direct election of mayors and municipal chairpersons.

Mr. P. Ravi Maruth, party General Secretary, Mr. Y. D. Rama Rao, Vice President and Mrs. Kanthimathi Kannan, the party candidate contesting from Nampalli Assembly seat, took part in the media meet.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 16:06

Lok Satta initiative benefits Basara students

Thanks to a Lok Satta Party initiative, arrangements have been made for enrolment of all eligible students of IIIT at Basara in Nizamabad district as voters on the campus itself on March 9.

A Lok Satta Party team headed by its Telangana Coordination Committee Convener Bandaru Ramamohan Rao on a visit to the campus learnt that a considerable number of 6000 eligible students have not registered themselves as voters. Those who have already become voters are reluctant to go to their constituencies and exercise their franchise. With local, Assembly and Lok Sabha elections taking place one after the other beginning March 30 the students have to away from the campus for nearly 20 days if they have to take part in voting in their villages/towns.

Since exercising the voting right is a must if people want their problems to be addressed, the Lok Satta team requested Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal to ensure that the students are registered as voters on the campus itself so that they can vote in the ensuing elections locally. With the Election Commission and the district administration positively responding, arrangements have been made for their enrolment on March 9. Lok Satta Party volunteers will extend their cooperation in the campaign.

Mr. Ramamohan Rao appealed to all the eligible to check if their names figure in the voters’ list and enrol themselves as voters if they have not already on March 9.

Mrs. K. Gita Murthy, Mr. M. Raja Reddy and Mr. Nanidpet Ravinder accompanied Mr. Ramamohan Rao.

Saturday, March 8, 2014 - 18:04

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