Bidar Youth pledge full support
In a world plagued by the menace of corruption in public life, what can the citizens expect? Good service delivery? It has reached intolerable levels in some parts of the country. Drinking water? People continue to struggle despite BWSSB’s efforts to provide safe drinking water to all Bangaloreans. Medical facilities? Even doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff of government hospitals don’t budge an inch to help unless their hands are greased or ?warmed up’. Good roads and traffic management? One has to wade across innumerable potholes and never ending traffic jams! Clean elections? They are turned into arenas of money and muscle power. Good governance? Corruption has infected every nerve and fibre of political and social life.
This is the scenario that a common man watches perhaps helplessly day in and day out. The downward trend of service delivery continues without a sense of shame! Citizens pay taxes and helplessly watch their taxes going down the drain! A few speak up but theirs seems to be a voice in the wilderness. Others don’t just bother. Cynicism and indifference have spread like deadly cancer. Still others make a living out of the prevailing chaos and their business thrives day by day. The political patronage that
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…The struggle of citizens united under one banner can never go unnoticed or unrewarded….
With such trends in public life citizens particularly the youth can easily get disillusioned if not discouraged and desperate. However, the situation is not so grim as to make one give up. There is HOPE as long as there is LIFE. So “let us work together and if needed fight together to make our country corruption-free.” This is what the Youth of Bidar district said. In a capacity building workshop for the Youth organized by Public Affairs Centre Bangalore, the Youth of Bidar district took active part. They pledged to fight corruption starting from their district. Selected students who are members of NSS movement from across the 5 taluks of the district were quite enthusiastic in learning about governance issues.
Having analysed their district with its strengths and weaknesses, the students presented a vision for the district in 2010. They saw how the youth power remained shackled by heavy burdens of today’s society. They discovered ways and means to free themselves from ?bondage’ and channelise their energies for positive living. In a very meaningful ceremony the youth pledged never to give or receive a bribe. With lighted candles in their hands they took an oath to live as active citizens.
What was remarkable is that the Youth unanimously joined the already existing District Election Watch Committee of Bidar formed during PAC’s interventions during 2004 general elections in the district. They agreed to help people to register themselves on the voter’s list and to make the information about contesting candidates available to a large number of voters. This effort would ensure informed choices by the people. It would also demand transparency in elections and make the elected representatives accountable and responsible.
Another remarkable aspect of youth movement for better governance was the great interest shown by youth to work towards making the National Right to Information Act work effectively in Bidar. Even as the workshop was in progress, the youth exhibited interest in forwarding their letters of objection to the Rules notified by the government of Karnataka. In fact, they sent letters to the Principal Secretary to Government, DPAR with 50 signatures. This is a truth that is yet again proved by the success that the united effort of citizens has achieved. The Government of Karnataka gave up its proposal to levy a fee of Rs. 100/- for the application to seek information under the RTI Act 2005. It is now reduced to Rs. 10/-. A great success to citizen initiative and struggle.
Youth Movement for Good Governance (YMGG) is perhaps the first step taken by the Youth to demand corruption-free governance. But the movement will no doubt gather momentum and ultimately mobilize the entire student community in the country. As Chanakya has said many centuries before Christ, the greatest power is Youth Power. At least some of them hopefully would become leaders of the country in future. The power of youth to curb corruption cannot be underestimated. It is a power that will revolutionize the entire country and succeed in bringing about much desired good governance. Youth are our hope for a better tomorrow. If we sow seeds of good governance in their minds and hearts today, maybe we can expect to reap a harvest of good public services tomorrow. It’s our firm hope. We believe that the flame of hope will not be dimmed in the chill of corruption.
Author: Cyril Vas- Bangalore
