BBMP Election: Sham called ‘Women Reservation’

Dear Rahul Ji,

You breezed in and out of Bengaluru warning the Chief Minister and City Ministers of serious action in case INC losses BBMP Elections, good to know that you are talking tough and telling the Ministers who are from Bengaluru City to win or get ready to be axed. There is no doubt whatsoever that if all the INC MLAs and Ministers who are from Bengaluru City work in the interest of the party, INC will get an absolute majority in BBMP Elections.

But at what cost remains the mother of all questions, with unnecessary and uncalled for delays in the BBMP Election process INC lost its initial advantage to a great extent, and with the method in which the candidates are selected raises very serious questions on the intent and motive.

Inspired by the growing anger among the people demanding better candidates from political parties, I decided to contest BBMP Election, as per the process I submitted my application and a detailed two page profile to KPCC. A look at my application and profile will only suggest that there cannot be a better candidate than me to contest BBMP Election on an INC ticket.

Clean, Credible & Committed, with a good understanding of Civic Administration, vast experience in Sr Management roles and spirited Political & Environmental Activist, I was convinced that party will see greater merits in my application.

I was indeed very impressed when the observers came to meet all the aspirants individually, but that did not last long, the sham of selection stood thoroughly exposed. As observers started calling the names of the women aspirants, the men proudly walked and took the seat, left me wondering where the women were. So women were just the proxy for the real candidates ‘the men’.

This story is neither strange nor shocking, because this is how genuine women leaders are kept out of political process. You keep talking and giving big speeches about women empowerment and bringing women into the main stream politics, but reality is not a single woman is given ticket on her own credentials.

The selection process violated every single selection criteria, the women who were given tickets are neither party workers nor active members of the party. So stop this farce called ‘selection process’ and directly ask the male leaders to nominate their female relative and give them tickets and get over it.

What can be more appalling, even with 50% reservation INC has not given tickets to independent women candidates/aspirants. INC leaders choose the female relatives of male leaders to fill the 50% seats, who will act as proxy for the male leaders and keeping civic administration within the family.

I agree that it’s a common practise across parties, and if you want to follow the same practise then INC and you should not speak about ‘Women Empowerment’ anymore. And, if you really want to bring in change then promote women leaders recognize them for ‘who they are’ and not for ‘who they are related to’.

By giving tickets to incompetent, unqualified proxies who are not even party members you are not only insulting women members of the party who dared to venture into the male bastion but also making a mockery of the Democratic process and disrespecting the voters who have little choice but to vote for a man behind a woman.  

More than being disgruntle I am disgusted with the approach to ‘fill’ the 50% seats reserved for women with men. People like me relate to INC Ideology, but with repeated grave mistakes and unwillingness to make course correction, connect to Ideology will fade away sooner or later.

- Kavitha Reddy

Just a party worker who dared to speak the Truth

HSR 10K Freedom Run 2015

Kaagaz Foundation is organizing the 3rd edition of ‘HSR 10K Freedom Run’ the objective being awareness and campaign for a Greener & Healthier Bengaluru.

This edition will take up various awareness campaigns and initiatives for a Greener & Healthier Bengaluru, proposed initiatives being:

- Tree Plantation drives
- Setting up Cycle Parking facility in HSR Layout
- Promote Cycling as a Health & Green initiative
- Organize SWM awareness programs

Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/442876259196583/

Being Farmer

Modi Sarkar was ushered into the Parliament with a landmark majority, and with a hope of #AccheDin. A hurried ordinance making major changes to the Land Bill that was passed with a thumping majority in 2013 by UPA-2, supported by BJP with equal vigour raised serious questions on Modi Sarkar’s intent.

Ordinance was projected as a major reform, and the #AccheDin Govt was least prepared for the backlash. Drunk with majority in LS and the corporate euphoria, little did it expect not just opposition in RS but a united and aggressive opposition taking the debate to the people’s court.

Consent, Compensation, Social Impact Assessment, Return of unused land are the hallmarks of the Land Bill 2013, and an attempt to make it crony capitalist friendly did not go down well with the very people who voted for #AccheDin. With no sight of #AccheDin even after 365 days, Modi Sarkar that came to power promising the Moon seems to have not done its homework and just came up with #Jumlas and U-Turns.

Land Bill that was passed in 2013 was long due; coming from farming community and having seen the suffering of the farmers post land acquisition the Land Bill 2013 was a great relief, a step in the right direction and felt better late than never.

Weaving my own story into this, as a kid I watched distressed farmers meeting my grandfather when Bommasandra Industrial Area was announced. My grandfather use to tell them that industry is also important; it will give employment to the youth and will improve living condition. Rich agriculture land was acquired with little and delayed compensation, farming community waited in vain for the much promised jobs for themselves and their children. The Industries never really took off, with just few factories here and there and no real jobs for the locals or for the farmers who gave up their land. As years passed in distress trying to make ends meet, sooner or later Bommasandra Industrial Area was heading towards being declared sick Industrial Area.

The only advantage was that my native is much closer to the city of Bengaluru. After several years in agony and struggle to make ends meet it was the IT revolution that revived the fortunes of farmers and their children who already had crossed the prime age and were just about making a living.

The stories of many other Industrial Areas are no different, land acquired in the name of industry and with a promise of jobs take several years and sometimes never happens.

MD of Biocon infamously referred to farmers as ‘Squatters’ in her enthused support to the proposed changes in the Land Bill. Little does she know that an assessment across the Industrial Areas will only show how land allotted several years ago for an industry that never came up is worth 20-50 times more today, the real squatters are the industrialists who refuse to part with prime properties they got at a throw away price.

In an article by my Ex Boss (for whom I have very high regards) argues how it’s important to have fewer farmers and more production, but not stating the fact that every industry wants less employees and more productivity, living the question wide open on who will really benefit from the proposed changes to the Land Bill.

It is true that a farmer’s child many not want to be a farmer, but it is also true that lack of strong agricultural policy has indeed driven many away from farming, if there is one business that has the maximum risk it is indeed agriculture. Farming and related activities employs most in India, and cannot be just measured on its GDP contribution.

Even as my parents moved to the city, we had the advantage of farm produce reaching home. Never remember buying Rice, Ragi, Dal, Chilli, Tamarind, Coconut, Curry leaves, Mustard, Ghee or Mangoes or at times even fresh vegetables from a shop. The quality of our life was better and my parents were able to afford good education for us and for many of my cousins/relatives because of the mutually beneficial arrangement back in the village. If we had to sell out all our land to some industry and move to the city, I would not have had the privileges and benefits I grew up with.

What really bothered many when the ordinance was shoved down the throat of Democracy was that many of us could connect to the farmers’ issues directly; many of us have lost land in the name of development and got nothing substantial in return. The heart of India is still agriculture, even if you are an IAS officer when you go to your village you would not shy away from picking up the spade and diverting water into the fields. 

Argument of creating a stronger economy and ‘trickling down effect’ has always been a bad one. If ‘trickling down effect’ was true then with India opening up the economy in the 90’ should be lifted every Indian out of poverty. The reality is millions fall back into poverty when there is a hospitalization or death or even a small unfortunate incident in their families. A bad crop can drag an entire farming community into poverty; booming economy without a strong social welfare schemes and pro-farmer schemes will not address poverty or the farmer issues in India.

Consent, Compensation, Social Impact Assessment and Return of unused land should be a rule. Like industry is important so is agriculture, one cant chase investments, promise jobs and take away livelihood of millions of farmers in the name of development. Food security is indeed the hallmark of a humane country and no development is relevant if it betrays its farmers who grow our food.

-Kavitha Reddy

Memorandum to CM - Somasundrapalya Lake & KCDC

To,                                                                                                               

Shri. Siddaramaiah Ji

Honorable Chief Minister, Govt of Karnataka

Bengaluru

 Sub: Appeal to Rejuvenate Somasundrapalya Lake and to end menace of KCDC plant 

Respected Siddaramaiah Ji,

Greetings! At the outset for the letter, we congratulate you for the recent initiatives by your government under your able leadership in conservation of water bodies across the state by passing the Karnataka Tank Development Authority Bill, 2014 in the recent assembly session.

We are confident that the provisions in new bill would help in rejuvenation and conservation of water bodies in the state. We also hope this legislation will help in revival and conservation of the water bodies in and around Bengaluru that are very crucial for recharging of the depleting ground water tables given the kind of urban sprawl that the city is been witnessing.

Bengaluru city was known for the lakes but today many of them vanished and the one’s remaining are in peril. The reasons range from encroachments of the tank shore area, raja kaluvas, inflow of effluents from industries in up streams, domestic waste water flows into storm water drains resulting in pollution of water bodies. The multiplicity of the institutional ownership of various departments is another issue that has been hunting the lake conservation.    

At this juncture, we take this opportunity to bring to notice the Somasundrapalya Lake (also known as Haralakunte Lake) one such neglected lake located survey number 0051 BBMP Ward 190, of Bommanahalli Assembly Constituency; the lake is currently under BDA jurisdiction (East division).

Key issues of Somasundrapalya Lake:

-   The lake originally spread over close to 16 Acres 29 Guntas, in last few years about 3 acres has been encroached. (enclosed copy of RTI reply)

-   The broken fencing and complete neglect by BDA has resulted in debris dumping, excess growth of weeds, entry of raw sewage and affluent into lake. There by making it completely unusable for residents either for a walk or recreation.

-   Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) located in the vicinity of the lake, has been encroaching the lake bed for its vehicle movements and to stack up waste and leachate is flowing into the lake.

-   KCDC plant in this area is close to a heavily populated locality; the residents have been constantly complaining about the raising stink, vector menace leading to respiratory diseases and skin allergies. During the monsoon the stink from KCDC garbage processing operation are unbearable, and residents have take up the issue with the local authorities but the problem continues to remain.

-  This lake falls under the upper catchment of the Varthur Lake series, and is interconnected to 9 lakes in this series gets a good quantity of rain water, and it can retain and recharge the ground water tables. But neglect and blockages of the inlets has resulted in lesser and lesser water reaching the lake.

We would also like to draw Hon. Chief Minister’s attention to 7^th Sept 2013 visit to Agara Lake, where you had instructed the BDA Commissioner to re-survey Somasundrapalya Lake, and had directed BBMP Commissioner to take necessary steps to remove encroachments. So far neither BDA nor BBMP has taken initiated any concrete action nor have indicated any plan of action in this regard.

The residents of the locality have on several occasions expressing their concern and helplessness to get the relevant authorities to address w.r.t lake conservation and remedial measures to control the odor nuisance from the KCDC operations in this area.    

On behalf of the residents of the locality we are submitting the memorandum in full faith that Hon. Chief Minister will take cognizance of the concerns we have raised and will initiate necessary action without any further delay.

The inhabitants of the Somasundarpalya and surrounding area would be highly indebted the Hon. Chief Minister. We once again make humble request you to kindly do the needful and oblige.

Looking forward to hearing from you at the earliest.

Thanking you,

Warm Regards,

  

Kavitha Reddy

Mountaineer & Lake Activist

Member of One Bengaluru for Lakes

Founder Member, Jt Secretary of Agara Lake Protection & Management Society

Enclosed: 1. Response to RTI query regarding the lake area

               2. Copy of the local newspaper that covered your 7^th Sept 2013 visit

               3. Three Photos of the current state of Somasundrapalya Lake

CC: Shri. Ramalinga Reddy, Hon. Transport Minister & Bengaluru City in-charge Minister, GOK

      Shri. Kupendra Reddy, Hon. Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha

Click here for reply from CM Office 

We the Women

‘It is impossible to think about the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is impossible for a bird to fly on only one wing’ - Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda would not have imagined that even after a century we will still be talking and debating about gender inequality and women empowerment. It has taken centuries of struggle for women to break the glass ceiling, to be relevant and to be counted in different walks of life, but sad reality is that gender equality is still a far cry. It is a shocking fact that female infanticide is higher in urban India than rural India, defeating the argument that urbanization and education enables gender equality.

Challenge of gender inequality indeed arises due to a huge gap in participation of women in Social, Economic and Politics space, even though women to some extent have broken the glass ceiling in the Social & Economic space, India has seen a decline in participation of women in Political space.

With women reservation bill gathering dust, the percentages of women in Parliament and Assemblies across states are reducing and the gap is only getting wider. Some states might have made a 50% reservation for women in local bodies (Municipality/Corporation/Panchayat), but women are more co-opt by a male relative and is not necessarily a genuine attempt to provide opportunity for women to be part of the political discourse.

Excluding few well know women politicians like Indira Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee, Sushma Swaraj, Jayalalitha who have utilised the opportunity and have risen to be strong mass leaders, women in politics are selected or co-opted. Majority of women who have made it to the Parliament and Assemblies are either relatives of male politicians or achievers in their own fields who are parachuted by various political parties for electoral gains and mere representation.  

Fewer women are joining political parties as primary members or taking to political activism, working their way up and surviving the heat and dust of Indian politics has less takers. What is even more worrying are the results of a study conducted by Centre for Social Research and UN Women which found that women in politics face high levels of violence, fear character assassination and emotional abuse, and adding to it, women who are young, poor and first generation politicians found to be the worst affected.

Indian politics over the years has indeed become more of money, machismo and muscle, has this change kept women away from active politics? Whatever may be the reason, lesser participation of women in Politics and in Governance is not a good sign for our Democracy and the Nation at large. Women are 49% of Indian voting population, but a meagre 11% of the Parliamentarians are women.

Bringing in women into politics is indeed a chicken-egg situation; will the political parties create a women friendly atmosphere to enable women to take to politics actively or will they encourage more and more women to take up party membership who will thereby bring the change in the political structure remains an eternal question.

Rahul Gandhi while addressing women party worker rally pointed out that the rally had more men than women and the same is reflected in his party offices too. PM Modi speaks about saving the daughters and empowering women, unfortunately percentage of women in his party also do not add up. Aam Admi Party that has galvanised the youth and re-energised interest in politics also lags behind when it comes to giving tickets to women candidates.

Every party recognises that larger participation of woman in Politics and Governance is good for the Democracy. Sadly cutting across party lines the one common factor that makes all of them look equal is that the percentage of women in the party and percentage of women who are given tickets to contest elections.

But it is also important that women break barrier and take to political activism, if one waits for the all signals lights to go green, it will never happen. More women participation in Politics and in Governance is a critical step towards closing the gap, the gap of gender inequality. Let’s face it, any substantial change that impacts India happens only through our Parliament and Assemblies, and if women are not part of the law making process it raises very serious questions. It is also true that without a large talent pool of women political activist just parachuting women into Parliament and Assemblies indeed makes the men who have worked their way up in the political system disgruntle.

Irrespective of the party or ideology one chooses, women need to become part of the political structure and political discourse of this country. As a third generation political activist I do agree that politics is a tough place, but so is everything else. Women reservation bill even if it becomes law will not change much unless women step out of comfort zones and voluntarily identify themselves with a political structure and work towards becoming lawmakers. A change can happen for women only by women, and what India needs is a mass movement lead by women to become equal partners in political discourse, governance and law making.

As one more International Women’s Day nears, let us not just restricted it to celebrate womanhood and pat our back on our achievement, but constructively work towards gender equality in Social, Economic and Political space.

As Hillary Clinton aptly said ‘It is past time for women to take their rightful place, side by side with men, in the rooms where the fates of peoples, where their children's and grandchildren's fates, are decided.’

- Kavitha Reddy

Namaste Obama

Greetings and Welcome back!

Many things have changed since your last visit, and fortunately for you Americans are not expecting much, your media back home has already referred you as a lame duck President who is going to India to watch a Parade! Oh additionally you may be signing few papers and pose for photos with PM Modi, may be even a Selfie, you can also learn how to take a Selfie from PM Modi.

This time around instead of Mahatma Gandhi you may have to speak about Godse, so please read about Godse and be prepared to call him a patriot, yes your secret service staff can procure books on Godse from any RSS shakha, they will give it for free. If PM Modi is going with you to Raj Gath it’s more for PR, and be assured his respect is only for Godse and not Mahatma.  

PM Modi is all excited about your visit; America has always been his ultimate dream. Recently at Vibrant Gujarat PM Modi promised the world cheap Indian labour, and to prove it he paid Rs 300 per day each for 600 workers who cleaned all parts of Agra that you had planned to visit. Agra and Taj Mahal got a face lift just for you, and you decided to attend the Saudi King’s funeral, yes we understand, oil is indeed thicker!

Our media has changed too, last time they were all thrilled to talk about you for weeks, and this time around they will be finding ways to praise PM Modi from every word you utter. Last time around media was keen on what you wore and what you did not, this time around they will be raving about PM Modi designer wear and how he matches his attire to yours more than Michelle!

I am aware that you have a very high regards for our soft spoken, well educated and statesman Ex PM Dr Singh with 5x3.5 inch Heart and 1.5 kg Brain, but as I said many things have changed, we now have a 56 inch chest PM Modi whom you have to deal with and nothing more.

Was told that you will be giving a sermon called ‘Maan Ki Baat’ along with PM Modi on Radio, Maan Ki Baat is about speaking your mind, so be careful of what you speak! If you really end up speaking your mind PM Modi Bhakts will troll and abuse you, they can trend hash tag of abuses on Twitter within minutes! Beware that the Indian-Americans will spoil the Democrats changes next elections, and will stop funding your party if you even remotely speak your mind!

You are the 1^st US President to be part of the Republic Day Parade only because PM Modi is obsessed with ‘1^st time’ even if it makes no sense to our Nation. So don’t get carried away that you are the 1^st American US at the Republic Day Parade, because it’s not about you it’s about PM Modi.

India’s Republic Day Parade is mostly about showcasing our defence strength and 60+ years of sheer growth and prosperity; don’t feel bad because most of it on display will be Russian! All our previous governments choose Russia over America, but don’t worry PM Modi is a America fan, most of his election funding and support came from NRI’s in America, so expect defence deals for America too.

PM Modi has launched ‘Clean India’ campaign and asking celebrities to send pictures holding a broom, many be you too should launch ‘Clean America’ to wipe and clean the bloodshed across the world you have spilled in the name of war and security for America!  

Our Ex PM Dr Singh must have spoken to you about his policies and how it will help most of India’s population, as I said many things have changed PM Modi policies are like Karan Johar movies made for Rich, Affluent and NRI audience with lot of Hoopla. PM Modi has already cut Medical, Healthcare, Land compensation, Rural Jobs, Food, Farmer budget, so do not talk about the common people with PM Modi he has left them to die a natural death or commit suicide as he has also proposed to de-criminalize suicide.  

Many things have changed; PM Modi has changed all the name of the programs implemented by Dr Singh lead Government. PM Modi likes ‘change’ he mostly changes names and cloths way too often!

But you just chill and have a good time, this visit is not about you it’s about PM Modi and even if you make few false promises or goofy statements it’s ok, we are now used to the lies PM Modi has told us before elections.

Don’t even try to feel at home, RSS-VHP will then perform a Gharwapsi ceremony for you! 

Warm Regards

Kavitha Reddy

Open Letter to Elected Representatives

Dear Elected Representatives,

I know all your birth dates by now and I surely do not want to wish you on your birthday’s ever!  I also know that you wish your voters on every possible occasion even though it makes no real difference to their lives nor you have made any sincere effort to make a difference to their lives!

Yes you and your party workers have successfully made Bengaluru Ugly with all those Banners, Hoardings and Posters, which to my guess are mostly unpaid and unauthorized. 

Since you have set the trend, millions have followed you, with posters that offer PAN Cards, Passports, PG Accommodation, Cars, Cabs, Houses, Training, Sex, Cook, Food, Yoga, DL, Movies etc are pasted on every single Wall, Flyover, Tree, Fence, Divider, Electric Poles, Gates and any other place that is still left!

What is more amusing and shameful is that most of the Bengaluru MLA’s and Corporators are from BJP, PM Modi who heads the BJP Govt in the centre passionately and eloquently speaks about Swacch Bharat. PM Modi has been asking people to clean the Roads, Locality, City, State, Country, and all you do is make the city of Bengaluru Ugly, Dirty and Filthy every day and disrespecting the PM who is from your own party!

Thanks to the BBMP, the city is infamously christened as ‘Garbage City’ and you people are busy adding and other tag of ‘Ugly City’. A rap on BBMP knuckles by Courts and Lokayukta has made no difference; BBMP has shown no will or spine and they continue to follow the diktats of you and your ever aggressive party workers. The city not just getting uglier by the hour but is losing revenue, as none of you pay for erecting up those horrendous Banners, Hoardings and Posters.

Even at a small fee of Rs1 per Banner/Hoarding/Poster per day would mean cores of revenue that BBMP is losing, additionally BBMP ends up using tax payers money to remove/clean/dispose them. Those ridiculous flex banners you proudly display your photos on cannot be recycled; and it ends up in the landfills creating few more Mandurs!

Spare a thought, the city is already suffering from air pollution, water pollution, garbage, noise pollution, traffic jams, pot holes. Think about it, if I am stuck in a traffic jam and all I get to see are faces of you and your 30 odd party workers almost mocking at my fate, and follow me all through the lane till I turn to the next road, sadly only to see one more of your kind.

Recently, I spotted a old lady who tearing one of your big poster from the frame, I asked her if she was angry with the politician, she smiled and replied ‘no, the only good thing is that I can use these poster to cover my toilet which is in open’, alas you have helped some one!

Stop making a mockery of the system using your political forces, you have wiped-off the revenues for BBMP and are using the tax payer’s money to clean up your mess. Buckle up the city is struggling to survive; spare the city from your Posters, Banners, Hoardings and the Public Nuisance you are indulging in. Also save self from future public humiliation, because days are not far when people have to pee and poo on your banners and posters!

City of Bengaluru needs a break, needs a break from your ‘Political Litter’!

- Kavitha Reddy

Not Mahatma Gandhi's India!

Disturbing trends are emerging in India over the last 10 months; fringe groups nationally have taken centre stage in the name of Hindutva post the Lok Sabha elections of 2014. 

It will not be an exaggeration to say that the very foundation of ‘Idea of India’ laid by our founding fathers is under threat. Slowing our nation is moving towards religious identity and fanatic mindset in the name of nationalism.

Marking 15^th Nov, the day Bapu’s killer was hanged as Shaurya Divas, calling Godse a Patriot and initiating a sinister program to install statues of Godse all over the country only suggests that the fringes who have taken over the reins along with BJP want to erase the sacrifices, contribution and principles of Mahatma Gandhi.

It’s shocking and to hear/read news clip like this "@ANI_news: we want Gandhi photo taken off from currency notes, replace with Maharana Pratap or Godse: Hindu Mahasabha Karnataka".

The current PM who comes for the same state Bapu was born makes lengthy speeches in the name of Mahatma, but is unwilling to control the fringe elements in his Cabinet and in his Party; they are on a daily basis shaking the very foundation of ‘Idea of India’.

Mr PM uses Mahatma for PR and image makeover while he lets his MPs, Party people and parent organizations offer Prayers for Godse.

A day does not go by without a hate speech or a situation to create communal disharmony, making me cynical and crying loud it’s ‘Not Mahatma Gandhi's India’.

100 years ago on 9^th Jan 1915 Bapu returned to India and 100 years later we are driving away the thoughts, principles, memories of Mahatma who struggled for freedom of this nation! 

- Kavitha Reddy

Bengaluru: Water Matters

Quenching Bengalureans thirst and supplying tap water to the city is the most expensive affair, and is dipping into the BWSSB finances on a daily basis. A hike in water rates by BWSSB is always condemned, followed by a massive outrage in media, and then it ends in political fireworks and a price roll back.

Everyday 900-1000 Million Litres of water is processed and pumped from a distance of 100 kms to Bengaluru which is at a higher altitude; it costs BWSSB not less than Rs80/KL of water that reaches Bengaluru, making it one of the most expensive water supply operations in the country. Even with such an expensive operation over 30-35% of Bengaluru do not get the water supplied by BWSSB or don’t get enough even for basic needs. Households in several revenue pockets, apartment blocks, slums, parts of newer BBMP wards are deprived of BWSSB connections/supply and have to pay 2-4 times more for the same quantity of water that the households who have BWSSB connections utilize.

Households without BWSSB connections or less of it are drawing underground water from the tube wells in their premises or dependent on private water tanker supply system (the infamous water mafia). On one hand it is an environmental disaster in the making, as excess drawing of ground water and less than 30% of it getting recharged, the ground water will dry up sooner or later. On the other hand is the huge disparity in the cost one pays to buy water.

A household in a slum pays Rs2-5 for a pot of water, a resident in an apartment block buys tanker supplied water (6000 litres) at Rs300-800 and a household with BWSSB connection pay Rs7/KL of metered water. The glaring disparity is not just unfair but undemocratic too, why should households of the same city have to pay different cost for water they consume?

On an average a person needs 80-120 litres of water per day to lead a hygienic and healthy life, and access to clean affordable water is indeed a right of every citizen. The lopsided supply of water does not address the minimum requirement of water to keep the citizens hygienic and healthy. It’s common knowledge that water tanker mafia aid the local politicians to control their vote banks in smaller colonies, and to make windfall profits by supplying water to affluent apartment blocks. Hence there has been no urgency or political will to make rational changes to the system and to improve the water supply situation in Bengaluru.

Honorable CM Shri Siddaramaiah who is also the Minister in-charge of BWSSB has to review the water supply situation and fix the unfair disparities. With increasing influx of people into the city there will be an excess strain on resources, it’s practically impossible to keep drawing water from 100-200 kms from different rivers and also draining out ground water.

Suggestions to BWSSB, and tough measures:

BWSSB should use the BBMP GIS mapping and connect all the properties in Bengaluru to its network, making it mandatory for every household to have a BWSSB water connection. When a property is linked to BBMP Taxes and BESCOM power supply there is no reason why the Sewage and Water connections are not made mandatory.

Supply 80-120 litres of water per person per day to every household, at an average of 5 people per household at a subsidized rate, and charge any additional usage at actual operating cost. Charging at actual operating cost above the basic necessity automatically forces reduction in usage; it promotes conservation and increases adoption of rainwater harvesting methods.   

Ban drilling of tube wells for at least next 10 years, register and meter all the existing tube wells in the city and charge the water drawn from tube wells, but also reward recharge and harvesting methods.

Shut-down private water tanker operations, as the menace of controlling water for votes or gains should end. In a civilised society and in a democratic set-up there should be no room for controlling of voices & votes via water. 

Yes, many concerned citizens have taken to water conservation and rainwater harvesting in a big way, hats off to them, but their efforts alone will not solve the water problems of the city. There has to be changes at the Legislative level, and the current Karnataka Government has a great opportunity to bring in the much needed changes to the way water is supplied and priced in Bengaluru. However unpopular and politically challenging the changes are, it should be done as its good for the city and its citizens.

Water for all can become a reality if the Government uses a carrot & stick approach, by rewarding conservation and punishing excess usage.

-Kavitha Reddy

Also published in Jagran City Plus HSR Layout Edition 03rd Jan 2015 Click

IT Enabling Karnataka

‘Governance at your Fingertips’ much awaited initiative was launched by Government of Karnataka early this month, and the Chief Guest was none other than the Honorable President of India. Seldom has Karnataka missed an opportunity to be Innovative or to embrace technology ‘Governance at your Fingertips’ is yet another feather in its cap.

How can one forget BengaluruOne initiative that brought the payment of all utilities under one roof, with centers spread across the city operating from  8am to 8pm or the BWSSB and BESCOM automated bill payment machines.

BBMP launched the SAS, enabling assessment and payment of Property Tax online, thereby cutting the middle men, curbing corruption and saving the citizens from the hassle of standing in queues for hours.

KSRTC going online with its ticket booking was dubbed as the first of its kind in the country. BMTC online access to bus schedules or enabling the staff to apply for leaves via Kiosks, the state embraced technology seamlessly for all the right reasons.

Bengaluru police went a step further, made their presence felt in the social media and starting putting out information on Law & Order and Traffic on Facebook. With rising crime on children no less than the City Police Commissioner and his team took to twitter to interact with worried citizens, sharing information, making police truly accessible and people friendly. In which city in India will you find a Police Commissioner replying to your tweet and tagging the relevant officer?

After the arrest of an ISIS online supporter, the city went tizzy by the threats posted by some ISIS supporter calling for revenge. It was indeed very reassuring to see how the City police quickly addressed the citizens and put out a letter from Police Commissioner in social media and asking people to share it.

When a concerned citizen wrote this tweet to Police Commissioner “@sai_2008: @BlrCityPolice @CPBlr how we can believe that this letter is really from police commissioner because electronically anything is possible"

Police Commissioner quickly replied "@CPBlr: @sai_2008 @BlrCityPolice believe me. It's from me!!"

Government of Karnataka is using technology as an enabler and as a tool to reach out to its citizens across all medium/platfroms, and why not, when a large part of our population is connected on mobile phone network already.

‘Governance at your Fingertips’ under the name ‘MobileOne’ is a user friendly mobile application and 161 toll free number offering over 4000+ services ranging from Utility, Police, Telecom, Travel, Agriculture, Tax, Sakala, HRMS, Healthcare, Banking etc across the state. Citizens can download the application on their mobiles or dial 161 to access information, check service status, check nearest bus stop, raise complain or pay bill etc at their convenience.

Governance is about making the right policies and reaching it out to people, Government of Karnataka through its innovation and technology initiatives has show the way to the entire country time and again.

To showcase the Karnataka technology initiative, Karnataka tableau at this Republic Day in Delhi should indeed be the MobileOne and various MGovernance initiatives of Government of Karnataka. It’s time to say that Karnataka is inspired by its Capital city that provides IT & IT enabled services to the world.

Access to Services, Information and Processes will go a long way in taking Governance to people and ‘Governance at your Fingertips’ is indeed one big step in the right direction by Honorable Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Government.

-  Kavitha Reddy                     

Also published in Jagran City Plus HSR Layout Edition 27th Dec 2014 Click

Recoding INC: Open Letter to Rahul Gandhi

Dear Rahul Gandhi,

HT headlines that read ‘Rahul Gandhi gets ready for rediscovery of India’ indeed prompted me to write an open letter to you. After many such ‘rediscovery of India’ trips that you have undertaken it has been nothing more than a mockery of the legacy of ‘Discovery of India’.

Social Media, Main Stream, Voters, Panelist on debates, Right-wingers, Political opponents all are feasting on INC Leadership and particularly you, and somehow you choose ‘rediscovery of India’ path!

INC its staring at the Leadership for direction and all you plan to do is an ‘Incredible’ India tourism campaign? Don’t be fooled when some of the ‘bright stars’ in the party claim that if Indira could do it so can Rahul, even though I believe you have many qualities of Indira and she has been your inspiration, it’s fair to say that you are NO Indira and 1970's India is not 2014 India.

I am not interested in giving my views on why INC ended up with 44 MP, just 6 less than the maximum WhatsApp group count, nor I am willing to blame UPA-2 for what it did or did not do. Because, no one drives a car just staring at the rear view mirror, a rear view mirror is only to learn from the past and be aware of what is behind you. It’s time to look ahead, make a fresh start, but sadly there seems to be no concrete efforts made in that direction.

It’s given that you will be under the worst scrutiny ever, both internally and externally and it’s not going to get any better for you for a long time. The Leaders in INC are having a ‘party’ literally, pouncing, scratching and prowling at each other leaving the workers in a state of shock or worst running for cover.

Do not forget, over 10.7 crore people voted for INC, its time INC kept its commitment to these people who stood by the party even when it was staring at a brutal loss. Make a shift, ask these 10.7 crore people why they voted for INC, may be their conviction can help you steer INC in the right direction and help to ‘Recode’ INC.

Buzz is that there will more emphasis on PR, Communication, SM, Media interactions etc etc, yes all these can be achieved by bringing in professionals to manage it, ok good, but is that all one needs to do? No, INC has to bring back its sympathizers, believers, liberals, anti-right-wingers, traditional supporters, the disillusioned and more importantly women back into its fold.

Yes democratization of IYC and NSUI is something you should be proud of, but are they heading in the right direction? May not be, IYC and NSUI that should have been an army of political activist, free thinkers, idealist, young minds who feel the pulse of young India and who represent the ideology of INC, sadly they reflect the same shade of the larger organization which you are finding difficult to change.

INC biggest supporters were the women, for whom Indira Gandhi has been an inspiration, but the organization has failed them completely. Local leadership across states has systematically decimated the women leaders and workers. It’s unimaginable how a party headed by an inspiring woman like Sonia Gandhi has no credible and strong line of women leaders, if this is not failure what else can it be?

I too come from a family of political activist and hardcore INC supporters, all my life I have seen elections, where working professionals used to take leave from work and campaign selflessly for INC in every election. Where did these professionals go? What made these professionals go away, many may not have changed their ideology but they have simply distanced themselves from the local leadership. In corporate world we say that people do not quit organization, they quit managers, and it is not different from what happened to these professionals who were the greatest supporters of INC.

I am emphasizing again and again on the local leadership and grassroots level, because whoever becomes the President of INC nothing will change unless the foundation is ‘Recoded’. There is an urgency to move from mere tokenism to activism, money to mechanism and to bring back idealism into the organization. It can only happen if every member in INC is empowered to question and correct the leadership at all levels without being politically banished.

India has changed and INC can’t keep on romancing history, but there are many things that are eternal, which INC stood for - free thinking, idealism, conviction, liberal view, social justice, equality and fearlessness, and Recoding INC will be incomplete without this.

My nasty comments on you are not an indication of disbelief in your capabilities, recently when someone asked if your sister is a better bet for INC, I firmly said with a bloody nose, battered and bruised image RG is more equipped to lead INC. I am indeed a supporter of your Leadership; I strongly believe you are Sincere, Honest and someone who has the Heart in the right place.

As they say it’s the Generals who win the war through Strategy-Delegation-Deployment. Stop applying lipstick on pigs; bring in the Generals who can deliver, who are committed to the ideology of INC.

Don’t wait for political opponents and parties to make mistakes, winning a ‘For’ vote is more reassuring than winning an ‘Against’ vote. A golden opportunity has presented itself, it’s the 125 birth anniversary year of the first Prime Minister of our Nation there cannot be a better day to start Recoding INC. Indeed there can be no greater tribute to Pandit Nehru than restoring INC as a party of and for every Indian.

Quoting for an old advertisement that I think is apt for Recoding INC ‘To change the way you Look, change the way you Cook’.

- Kavitha Reddy