To change the system, citizens need to enter it, says BAF Founder

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: “An Active citizen is someone who is in constant touch with the officials. We need to have a serious introspection on our participation,” said Srikanth Narasimhan, co-founder of the Bangalore Apartment Federation (BAF) in a panel discussion on Saturday.

The discussion titled ‘Institutionalising Change’ was held as a part of ‘India Civic Summit 2024, organised by Oorvani and Citizen Matters.

Amongst the panellists were the executive committee member of Brand Bengaluru V Ravichandar, who was vary of the ‘800 pound gorilla,’ in the room.

This remark was made at the government, who are inevitably both the problem creator and solver. Asiya Khan, from Save Cevella Banyans, Raghavendra HS from Ward Committee Balaga, and Urban Planner Anjali Karol Mohan were the other panellists.

Narasimhan, who recalled an incident of a 17 year old’s grievous death after getting run over by a vehicle in the Old Madras Road, recalled the efforts pulled in along with to bring the change, in this case, a foot over bridge.

“We need enablers and collaborators to bring about change, be it with a corporator of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) or a nodal officer. The panel noted the ‘constituitional defect’ in naming the third tier of government the local ‘body,’ ” Ravichandar said.