Unschooling of Democracy - read oped in 'The Wire', and please sign petition for Public Consultation on BBMP Bill.
1 view
Skip to first unread message
Sandeep Anirudhan
Nov 9, 2020, 10:08:12 AM11/9/20
to gro...@googlegroups.com
Dear Friends,
UNSCHOOLING OF DEMOCRACY
Where do citizens get to learn governance and public leadership? Just like all other relevant life skills, ‘democracy’ cannot be imparted in schools or by NGOs or through books or civics text books. It is learnt by immersion in real activities: by participation in the community and processes of governance, interacting with public departments, dealing with people, environment and issues, and lobbying with representatives and govt mechanisms to shape decisions and policies, ie., by taking ownership of the community’s destiny!
The Area sabhas and Ward committees are the nearest arm of real governance for a citizen in the city, to both engage and shape a community’s future. This is where citizens can cut their teeth in democratic participation, and those publicly inclined can progress further in politics with a sound foundation. Hence, formation of ward committees and Area sabhas, need to be democratic exercises, the members of these committees need to be elected, instead of being nominated.
Let us demand this and more through a robust public consultation on the draft BBMP Bill for city governance! Let this not be a missed opportunity!
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandeepAnirudhanOfficial/posts/638956440107661
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/SandeepAnirudha/status/1325472638379073539
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHVkafxFdbo/
Please read, like, share, support!
#BBMPBILL #UrbanGovernance #Swaraj #PublicConsultation #DemandPublicConsultation
Where do citizens get to learn governance and public leadership? Just like all other relevant life skills, ‘democracy’ cannot be imparted in schools or by NGOs or through books or civics text books. It is learnt by immersion in real activities: by participation in the community and processes of governance, interacting with public departments, dealing with people, environment and issues, and lobbying with representatives and govt mechanisms to shape decisions and policies, ie., by taking ownership of the community’s destiny!
The Area sabhas and Ward committees are the nearest arm of real governance for a citizen in the city, to both engage and shape a community’s future. This is where citizens can cut their teeth in democratic participation, and those publicly inclined can progress further in politics with a sound foundation. Hence, formation of ward committees and Area sabhas, need to be democratic exercises, the members of these committees need to be elected, instead of being nominated.
Let us demand this and more through a robust public consultation on the draft BBMP Bill for city governance! Let this not be a missed opportunity!
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandeepAnirudhanOfficial/posts/638956440107661
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/SandeepAnirudha/status/1325472638379073539
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHVkafxFdbo/
Please read, like, share, support!
#BBMPBILL #UrbanGovernance #Swaraj #PublicConsultation #DemandPublicConsultation
Kind regards,
Sandeep Anirudhan
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages