Your weapon of change is here

DELHIS FUTURE: ARE RESIDENTS READY TO ELECT THEIR CHOICE OF COUNCILLORS?

It is your biggest weapon in a democracy. A fundamental right granted by the Constitution.

Time and again, by its use, leaders have been dusted away from thrones to pits in every democratic country. But in India’s capital, it is a burden for many to cast their vote — and they actually don’t.

A mere 42 per cent voters cast their vote in the 2007 Municipal Corporation of Delhi polls. The figure is disappointing by any standards. Even remote towns and villages in UP, where illiteracy is high, have recorded better polling percentage in the recent state Assembly elections.

So would people in the ‘educated’ and ‘suave’ Capital fare better than UP’s 60 per cent voters’ turnout? Would the turnout this time exceed the meagre 42 per cent recorded five years ago?

The three Delhi municipalities – North Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and East Delhi Municipal Corporation — are going to the polls on April 15. At least 1.12 crore adults in the city have the option of choosing 272 councillors from an array of wards.

MCD over the years

MCD came into existence on  April 7, 1958, under an Act of Parliament. Before that, Delhi Municipal Committee was the principal civic body looking after municipal affairs.

Freedom fighter Guru Radha Kishan has the honour of representing the MCD for most consecutive years as a councillor. The first elected mayor of Delhi was Aruna Asaf Ali, while Lala Hansraj Gupta served as the first mayor of Delhi.

Starting with a two-storey building — Town Hall in Chandni Chowk — the MCD served a population of 15 lakh in 1958. The MCD’s present headquarters  — Civic Centre — is a 28-storey building looking after the needs of 1.5 crore people.

A 1993 amendment to the Act brought fundamental changes in composition, functions, governance and administration of MCD. In 2007, the number of wards were increased from 134 to 272 for better representation and services.

Then the MCD was trifurcated into three municipalities after an amendment Bill was passed by Delhi Assembly on December 1, 2011. Besides the trifurcation, the Bill also allowed reservation of 50 per cent seats for women.

As a result, 138 seats have been reserved for women in the three municipalities. North and South Delhi Municipalities will have 104 wards each, and East Delhi Municipal Corporation will have 64 wards.

Citing corruption and the need to bring municipalities closer to people, chief minister Sheila Dikshit says the trifurcation of MCD is one of two biggest achievements in her 13-year rule of Delhi, the other success being the Commonwealth Games.

‘From cradle to crematorium’

The three Delhi municipalities together account for 97 per cent of the Capital’s total area and 98 per cent of its population.

With 35 departments ranging from engineering to factory, health to horticulture, IT to labour welfare, among other civic services, the municipalities provide over 100 services.

These include registration of birth and death certificates; maintaining roads, pavements and streetlights, and even booking of crematoriums.

Municipalities, in other words, is with you throughout your life. To quote State Election Commissioner Rakesh Mehta, “Municipalities impact our lives from cradle to crematorium”.

And yet, people in Delhi take municipal management casually, as reflected by the low turnout during MCD elections.

The situation has gone so bad that the Election Commission (EC) even announced sending a personalised letter to every person to come out and vote. Mehta, taking a cue from the recent state Assembly polls, booth-level officers will invite people to give details about their place of polling and other information.

“For the first time in this election, the EC will deploy these officers to send invitation letters to voters, mentioning their serial number in the voters’ list as well as name and number of the polling booth to encourage them to cast their votes,” said Mehta. He said April 15, which is Sunday, was specifically chosen as polling day. “Excuses like going to work or traffic hassles will not work then.”

But why is there a need to remind people to vote?

These are ‘busy times’. While people update their Facebook status to keep in touch with others and have the time to rush to the nearest mega-sale in a swanky showroom, they feel standing in queue to cast their vote is a futile and time-wasting attempt. The excuse is a familiar one — how does it matter if I don’t cast my one vote? Some may say all politicians are corrupt, so why bother about who gets elected?

Of course that one vote matters. It is important to stand up and be counted. Not voting is not caring — it is to toss aside the right given to you by the Constitution.

Most importantly, by not voting, one is helping a rogue candidate to get elected. One’s not voting helps a candidate against whom one would have voted.

There are umpteen reasons to vote. But the fact remains — voting is important and it should be the single biggest thing on your agenda come April 15. In the meantime, check the credentials of candidates contesting from your ward. Tell your friends and neighbours to do the same.

MCD elections

* Polling: April 15
* Notification: March 19, filing of nomination begins the same day
* Last date for nominations: March 26
* Municipalities:  North (104 wards), South (104 wards), East (64 wards)
* Voters: 42.95 lakh (North), 42.67 lakh (South), 27.16 lakh (East)
* Returning officers: 68
* Asst returning officers: 272
* Likely expense: Rs 25 crore
* Security officials: 12,000
* Get yourself registered:  Voter’s ID card is not enough to vote. You must have your name in the voters’ list. Visit http://ceodelhi.gov.in and click on the link ‘check your name in the voters’ list’ (electoral roll). Fill your details in the form, then the website will tell you whether your name is on the list . If not, you can submit an application asking to add your name. The process will take three weeks.
* Historical information: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi came into existence on  April 7, 1958, under an Act of Parliament. Before that, Delhi Municipal Committee was the principal civic body looking after municipal affairs.