Ward Samiti Balaga discuss civic issues in K'taka cities

A state-level meeting of citizens was held here on Sunday to discuss and try to resolve various issues facing the cities across Karnataka. More than 100 people joined the 'Ward Samiti Balaga' or 'Coalition of ward samiti' programme.

Some of the Bengaluru-based activists including Srinivas Alavalli, Santosh Naragunda and others discussed how parties and candidates can push for the establishment and empowerment of ward committees in cities during the state assembly elections. Balag a in Kannada means 'Coalition.'

It was created with the objective of creating active citizens for the formation, strengthening and sustaining of Ward Committees in their respective cities. The activists said that the Ward Samiti Balaga had been formed in 11 cities of Karnataka including Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Kalaburagi, Ballari, Tumakuru, Davangere, Mysuru, Vijayapura, Hubballi-Dharwad, Shivamogga and Belagavi.

The 1st Karnataka Ward Samiti Balaga Convention was held on 18th September 2022. The event witnessed active citizens from 11 cities of Karnataka coming together and discussing the status of Ward Committees in their cities and also resolved to enable the smooth functioning of Ward Committees.

The meeting on Sunday highlighted the decentralisation of urban governance which was proposed in the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (74th CAA). Article 243S calls for the creation of ward committees in municipalities with a population of three lakhs or more.

It was also discussed that the Ward Committees had been formed in the cities of Bengaluru and Mangaluru, and committee meetings were being held. Similarly, they said that applications for Ward Committees in Hubli-Dharwad, Bellary, and Kalaburagi had been received and must be formed.

No other cities have begun the process of forming ward committees, the activists said.The 11 cities ward samiti Balaga Members who attended the meeting unanimously agreed that parties and candidates should include the subject of ward committee formation and strengthening of them in their election manifestos and put it into action after the election.