B.PAC Press Meet Highlights Citizens' Vision for Better Governance in Bangalore
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The document outlines the genesis and goals of the Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC). Key points: - B.PAC was formed by citizens to make politics in Bangalore free of corruption, moral, ethical, accountable and transparent. - It aims to increase citizen participation in governance and hold elected representatives accountable. - B.PAC will endorse candidates in the upcoming state assembly elections that meet its criteria of having a record of public service, no criminal record, and support for B.PAC's agenda for Bangalore's development. - The agenda includes strengthening Bangalore's governance structure, increasing transparency and citizen involvement, improving infrastructure, and ensuring financial accountability of civic agencies.
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B.PAC Press Meet Highlights Citizens' Vision for Better Governance in Bangalore
- 2. B.PAC Press Meet 27th April 2013 2
- 3. B.PAC Genesis • Corrupt • Immoral • Unethical We, the citizens, have allowed politics to be • Free of corruption • Moral • Ethical • Accountable • Transparent and fair • Progressive It is up to us, the citizens, to make politics 3 Unless our conscience is clear we are not true citizens of this country We deliberately called it BPAC, the Bangalore Political Action Committee
- 4. 4 Why Bangalore? : Highly educated young people Highest per capita income among metros Largest number of R& D labs, over 375 Over 400 Fortune 500 companies Banks with 3rd largest quantum of deposits BANGALORE HAS: Sample checks show a high (40%)proportion of knowledge workers, of which only 5% vote…. Need to increase citizen participation in public affairs… •60% or Karnataka’s GDP •Fastest growing city in India •India’s only global city •Most educated city in India – vote bank of 40% of urban educated voters •Has put India on the global tech map •Bangalore must be governed in line with citizen aspirations •Can we make our city a model for governance within the best political eco-system? Bangalore is an important city as it demonstrates how India can take its rightful place in the world:
- 5. BPAC: What? 5 B.PAC’s VALUES Let’s be heard Let’s be fair Let’s be green Let’s be accountable Let’s be progressive Let’s be proud B.PAC is a non- partisan trust committed to promoting a better quality of life for every Bangalorean
- 6. B.PAC: How? Tackle poor governance on three fronts: • Ensure that educated voters participate in the political process • Legitimise election funding and make it transparent • Hold elected reps accountable • Eliminate corruption and unethical practices 6
- 7. B.PAC: How? What B.PAC has done: • Created a comprehensive Agenda for Bangalore and solicited support for this from political parties and candidates • Set up a core committee of prominent citizens from diverse fields • Identified mentors to guide B.PAC’s activities • Partnered with several social organisations for voter registrations,candidate endorsement and other activities focused on governance • Created a gateway for citizen funding of political candidates 7
- 8. B.PAC: How? We will announce today the list of candidates who B.PAC will endorse for the forthcoming assembly elections in Bangalore. This is based on a set of defined criteria to support ethical and committed politicians 8 Endorsing the right candidates
- 9. B.PAC: Agenda for Bangalore Strengthening the foundations of urban politics Proper governance structure for the city Promoting citizen inclusion in governance Strengthening the finances of the local body and other city agencies Ensuring accountability of civic agencies Developing strong infrastructure 9
- 10. 10 Team B.PAC B.PAC is founded by prominent citizens, across diverse professions, whose love of Bangalore led them to have a new vision for the city. Together, let us build a better Bangalore!
- 12. Selection of constituencies 27 constituencies • In Bangalore City Selection of Constituencies • Educated middle class • New voters 12 finally selected
- 13. Selected Constituencies S.No Name 1 Byatarayanapura 2 Malleshwaram 3 Hebbal 4 Sarvagnanagar 5 Gandhinagar 6 Rajajinagar 7 Basavanagudi 8 Jayanagar 9 Bommanahalli 10 Bangalore South 11 Mahalakshmi Layout 12 Padmanabhanagar
- 14. Candidate selection • Approximately 270 candidates in 12 constituencies • Filtered on the basis of: – Record of public service – No criminal record – Educational background • 43 candidates made to second round.
- 15. BPAC’s Endorsement Criteria Sl# Evaluation criteria 1 A record of public service, public standing and visibility in Bangalore 2 Level of Education 3 Filed income tax returns, if they were required by law to do so 4 No criminal record with any conviction for offences involving moral turpitude/ Not been involved, directly or indirectly, or associated with any sectarian or fundamentalist groups 5 No record of misuse of any public office for private gain 6 No history of violence/abuse (whether convicted in a court of law or not), particularly against women or children 7 No direct financial or other conflict of interest between their personal dealings and the public office they aspire to join 8 A good knowledge of the governance of Bangalore city and understanding of e-governance
- 16. Application of criteria to choose final list Sitting MLAs/MPs- • Performance as MLAs (DAKSH Scorecard, Assembly Record, MLA LAD Funds utilisation) • Details of Assets & Criminal Record (as per affidavits filed with the EC and search of publicly available information) • Perception of BPAC and its mentors • Support to Agenda for Bangalore
- 17. Application of criteria to choose final list Other Candidates- • Public service record (based on publicly available information) • Details of assets and criminal record (based on publicly available information) • Perception of BPAC and its mentors • Support to Agenda for Bangalore
- 18. S No Const Name Candidate Name Party 1 Byatarayanapura KRISHNA BYREGOWDA.C INC 2 Malleshwaram DR. ASHWATHNARAYAN C N BJP 3 Malleshwaram DR. MEENAKSHI BHARATH LSP 4 Hebbal ABDUL AZEEM JD(S) 5 Sarvagnanagar MICHAEL B. FERNANDES KJP 6 Padmanabhanagar MRV Prasad JD (S) 7 Gandhinagar DINESH GUNDU RAO INC 8 Rajajinagar S. SURESH KUMAR BJP 9 Basavanagudi B.K.CHANDRASHEKAR INC 10 Basavanagudi SHANTHALA DAMLE LSP 11 Jayanagar B N VIJAYKUMAR BJP 12 Bommanahalli DR.ASHWIN MAHESH LSP 13 Bangalore South DR. TEJASWINI GOWDA INC 14 Mahalakshmi Layout N.L. NARENDRA BABU INC
- 19. Thank you
- 21. Build A Better Governance Structure For The City •Create a statutory planning approach for all aspects of economic and social development, through the formation of a regional planning authority for Bangalore city. SEPARATION OF PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION •Establish a meaningful term of office for the Mayor of the city, the Corporation Commissioner and key civic officials, so that the vision for Bangalore can be implemented •Ensure that the mandates of the 74th Amendment, and the recommendations of the Kasturirangan Committee, are implemented. ACCOUNTABLE CITY GOVERNMENT •Introduce legislation as proposed in the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Governance Bill to strengthen public administration, to facilitate citizen participation in governance, and to enhance the powers of city government. SPECIAL STATUTE FOR BANGALORE •All parastatals that provide civic services should be brought under a common authority for the city •Ensure that the key officials in the BBMP (and the parastatals, e.g. BWSSB, BMRTC, BESCOM) are appointed in time •A municipal cadre should be established for the state, and officials in city government appointed from this cadre only. CITY GOVERNMENT AS AN IMPORTANT THIRD TIER OF GOVERNMENT •Appoint technical members in the Boards of the civic agencies, and technical advisory groups in each agency that bring in the expertise of private citizens into the regular functioning of service providers.EXPERTISE 21
- 22. Bring Transparency and Citizen Inclusion Appoint citizens in public decision-making and in solving problems at the neighbourhood level Include citizen experts in each of the Standing Committees of BBMP. Form ward committees in each neighbourhood, thereby involving citizens in routine works at the ward level. 22
- 23. Strengthen the finances of the local body and other city agencies • To maintain infrastructure • To support economic activity • To sustain public services. Bangalore faces a serious shortage of finances • Profession tax collected in the city to be earmarked for the city. • 50% of the stamp duties collected on property transactions in BBMP limits should be given to the city. • 50% of the road tax collected in the BBMP limits should be given to the city B.PAC: A fresh approach to revenue allocation 23
- 24. Ensure Accountability of Civic Agencies • Public information on all tenders for works executed in the city. • Regular progress reports on all projects. • Performance audits of projects undertaken by the officials of BBMP and other parastatals, with scope for citizen feedback. • CAG audit of the municipal body each year. • A public accounts committee to be created in BBMP to provide continuous improvement in standards for project execution. BPAC will work for: Public disclosure of expenditure on all projects. 24
- 25. Develop Strong Infrastructure We need world class infrastructure, if we are to have a world class city. • A comprehensive proposal for infrastructure development across all sectors has been drawn up by the Karnataka Information Technology and Communication (ICT) Group, which was presented to the government on January 8, 2013. BPAC will advocate that each piece of this proposal be taken up by the government and instituted over the next 10 years. 25
- 26. Strengthen the foundations of urban politics • Despite the growing urbanisation in the country, the number of seats in State legislatures and Parliament from urban areas has not grown. Explore legal and political processes to make representations that continuously reflect changing demographic trends. STRENGTHEN URBAN REPRESENTATION • Take up necessary interventions in courts and with the Election Commission to increase the permissible amounts of expenditure for election campaigns and regulation of campaign expenditure so that the public gets a good view of all candidates before election day. CAMPAIGN FINANCE 26
- 27. B.PAC: Strategic Interventions Support voter registration efforts to maximize people’s participation in democracy. Establish an Agenda for Bangalore, which is inclusive, and for the benefit of all Bangaloreans. Establish a steady stream of outreach and communication to all citizens, to whom the agenda of BPAC can be communicated, and whose support can be channeled to further the Agenda. Engagement with the political leadership of all parties, to seek to further the Agenda for Bangalore. Provide financial support to candidates contesting BBMP council seats, the 27 Assembly seats in BBMP areas, and the MP seats from Bangalore, who support the Agenda for Bangalore. Develop and maintain a program of informing voters about BPAC-supported candidates in elections, and recommend that they vote for them. Espouse legal processes necessary to further the Agenda for Bangalore. 27
Editor's Notes
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- With the highest per capita income in the cities of India, it is not easy to keep Bangalore on its planned trajectory of growth.The city has a surprising concentration of highly-educated and qualified young people. Its per capitaincome is the highest of all the metro cities in India. It has the largest number of R&D Labs, over 375,of any city in India. Over 400 of the Fortune 500 global companies are either located here or have aconnection to the city. Its banks have the third largest quantum of deposits and the fourth largestloan books. It has over 15,000 PhDs resident, many Institutions of National Importance, very manyengineering colleges, social science institutions etc. The speed at which it has developed from a‘retirement’ town into the centre of the country’s cutting-edge industries, is unprecedented.And yet, in many disappointing ways, Bangalore is the city of unkept promises. Despite all itsaccomplishment, Bangalore is a dreadfully ill-managed city, one in which competence and integrityseem sadly absent in the many arms of government and civic administration, and where most of itsproblems are being inexplicably allowed to fester. The resulting chaos, disenchantment anddisillusionment is so great, it is almost institutionalised.Something has to be done. That something is the Bangalore Political Action Committee, or “B.PAC”.
- Being non-partisan, we do not favour one political party over anotherGood governance In the governmentWith Integrity and transparencyWe look to the quality of the city’s infrastructureSupport strong candidates for officeWe plan for a safer Bangalore
- as all too often , governance breaks down because educated citizens have abdicated their responsibility to participate
- as all too often , governance breaks down because educated citizens have abdicated their responsibility to participate
- as all too often , governance breaks down because educated citizens have abdicated their responsibility to participate
- Who are the B.PAC?Here they are.These are some of the movers and shakers on this city.
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- Lacunae to be addressed:The policy, planning and administrative efforts of government are inter-twined, as a result of which there is inadequate clarity of roles and responsibilities of the BBMP, state government and Parliament for the city. • Reforms and policies that would have greatly improved the quality of life in the city are mandated by the 74th Amendment, the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, and the BBMP Act, but are not being fully implemented.1. SEPARATION OF PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION – Create a statutory planning approach for all aspects of economic and social development, through the formation of a regional planning authority for Bangalore city.2. ACCOUNTABLE CITY GOVERNMENT – Establish a meaningful term of office for the Mayor of the city, the Corporation Commissioner and key civic officials, such that they have adequate time to develop a vision for the city and implement it. Ensure that the mandates of the 74th Amendment, and the recommendations of the Kasturirangan Committee, are implemented.3. SPECIAL STATUTE FOR BANGALORE – Introduce legislation as proposed in the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Governance Bill to strengthen public administration, to facilitate citizen participation in governance, and to enhance the powers of city government.4. CITY GOVERNMENT AS AN IMPORTANT THIRD TIER OF GOVERNMENT – All parastatals that provide civic services should be brought under a common authority for the city; to ensure that BBMP has capacity to administrate the areas of the city. Ensure that the key officials in the BBMP (and the parastatals, e.g. BWSSB, BMRTC, BESCOM) are appointed in time so that there is adequate leadership to meet the city’s needs for development. A municipal cadre should be established for the state, and officials in city government appointed from this cadre only.5. EXPERTISE – Appoint technical members in the Boards of the civic agencies, and technical advisory groups in each agency that bring in the expertise of private citizens into the regular functioning of service providers.
- Growing disconnect between citizens and governance.
- Strengthening the finances of the local body and other city agencies – Bangalore faces a serious shortage of finances to maintain infrastructure, support economic activity and sustain public services. Given the importance of the city to the economy of the state, it is important that we should keep this ‘engine’ of the state running smoothly. A number of proposals for increasing revenue are needed. For instance: The profession tax collected in the city should be earmarked by the State government for the city.50% of the stamp duties collected on property transactions in BBMP limits should be given to the city.50% of the road tax collected in the BBMP limits should be given to the city.Such funds can be given either to BBMP, or to the BDA, for infrastructure development. The principle of such use of funds can be applied in all cities in the state, and they would all benefit from the infusion of funds.
- Ensuring accountability of civic agencies – To most citizens, it is not clear what the civic agencies are doing, or how well they are doing it. It is important to set measures of success for each of the agencies, and to also have public disclosure of their work, whether in small projects or at the level of achieving an overall vision for the city. BPAC will work for: Public disclosure of expenditure on all projects.Public information on all tenders for works executed in the city.Regular progress reports on all projects.Performance audits of projects undertaken by the officials of BBMP and other parastatals, with scope for citizen feedback.CAG audit of the municipal body each year.A public accounts committee to be created in BBMP to provide continuous improvement in standards for project execution.
- Developing strong infrastructure – We need world class infrastructure, if we are to have a world class city. At the moment there are serious deficits in physical infrastructure, knowledge infrastructure, social infrastructure and financial infrastructure, and we must overcome these swiftly. A comprehensive proposal for infrastructure development across all sectors has been drawn up by the Karnataka Information Technology and Communication (ICT) Group, which was presented to the government on January 8, 2013. BPAC will advocate that each piece of this proposal be taken up by the government and instituted over the next 10 years.
- Strengthening the foundations of urban politics – STRENGTHENING URBAN REPRESENTATION – Despite the growing urbanisation in the country, the number of seats in State legislatures and Parliament from urban areas has not grown. Explore legal and political processes to make representations that continuously reflect changing demographic trends.CAMPAIGN FINANCE – The permissible amounts of expenditure for election campaigns is currently too low, and needs to be set realistically. Also, regulation of campaign expenditure is weak. Take up necessary interventions in courts as well as with the Election Commission to set realistic limits for expenditure, and ensure that these are regulated well, so that the public gets a good view of all candidates before election day.
- BPAC will seek to achieve its goals through concerted strategic interventions. The Constitution, law and process of public administration broadly define the framework within which our democracy operates, and therefore our interventions will focus on these.Support voter registration efforts to maximize people’s participation in democracy.Establish an Agenda for Bangalore, which is inclusive, and for the benefit of all Bangaloreans.Establish a steady stream of outreach and communication to all citizens, to whom the agenda of BPAC can be communicated, and whose support can be channeled to further the Agenda.Engagement with the political leadership of all parties, to seek to further the Agenda for Bangalore.Provide financial support to candidates contesting BBMP council seats, the 27 Assembly seats in BBMP areas, and the MP seats from Bangalore, who support the Agenda for Bangalore.Develop and maintain a program of informing voters about BPAC-supported candidates in elections, and recommend that they vote for them.Espouse legal processes necessary to further the Agenda for Bangalore.