By Paramjit Singh Kakkar
As Dehradun is all set to deliver its mandate in the upcoming municipal corporation elections, the city stands at a critical juncture regarding its future. The identity as a serene and pristine Doon valley in the foothills of the Shivaliks is under severe risk on almost all counts of glory cherished in the past. Fast depleting green cover, severe road traffic issues, lack of public transportation, dug-up roads, concretisation and paving, depleting water table, pollution, sordid state of Bindal and Rispana rivers, real estate and land irregularities have left the citizens yearning for a transformative change. Liveability is an important aspect of a region and can be a significant factor in attracting and retaining people in a community. Basics of this index can be categorised as cumulative sum of Environment, Safety, Amenities, Transportation, Healthcare, Education, Culture, Cost and Friendliness.
The results of the present elections assume much greater dimension and an opportunity not to be lost. The future of the city is at stake, and it is now time to bring about a decisive change in the governance of the civic system the citizenry of Dehradun has been waiting for. The tag of a smart city or otherwise, the deep concern the residents have is about losing its status even as a liveable city, if tangible changes in various domains of essential civic facilities and infrastructure do not take shape on the very ground in the coming 5 years of the forthcoming tenure of the office of Nagar Nigam. Having said that, environment management as top priority must be at the apex of all planned schemes to be implemented. In a democratic environment, it is imperative to involve the voice of the citizens in the decisions as these ultimately impact their lives for now and forever. Hence, public participation assumes a very important component to be adopted as a core policy by the next incumbents. More of the power to bring this change lies in the hands of the electorate, which if it applies its wisdom to elect the right candidates without any biases, shall find the required systemic change.
Intriguingly, political dominance in elections has often overshadowed the merit-based selection of candidates. This leads to projecting a candidate with one sole motto – to win the election regardless of the merits demanded by the position he or she will occupy for the next 5 years. Needless to say, the polarised voters, influenced by party affiliations, often lose sight of the candidates’ capabilities and potential to bring about meaningful change.
However, this time, it is imperative that the mayoral and ward member candidates rise above the ritualistic political nature of these elections and address the pressing issues that have plagued the city for far too long. It is crucial for all, whether political or independent candidates, to recognise this and publicly present a manifesto with dateline action plan to tackle Dehradun’s core issues that weigh heavily on the citizens affecting their daily lives. The mayor, known as the “first citizen” of the city, is looked upon as the saviour of the entire city to mitigate the woes of all those aspiring to have a liveable environment as their right. Similarly, the ward members are duty bound as the representatives of their wards to foresee the pressing civic requirements of the residents and act to alleviate the issues.
What is most heartening is the awakening of the common citizen of the city participating in the process of this election, on a scale never seen before. The involvement of the public in the discourse can be gauged from a first-in-Dehradun collective dialogue of mayoral candidates taking place on an open platform at 12 p.m. on 18 January at the Uttaranchal Press Club. This is an opportunity provided to the mayoral candidates to respond to the ‘Green Agenda’ handed over to them as aspirations of Dehradun residents, endorsed by large number of environmentally active civil groups.
In conclusion, the upcoming elections present an opportunity for Dehradun to elect leaders who are genuinely committed to addressing the city’s challenges. It is time for the candidates to step up and present a vision for a liveable Dehradun, one that prioritises the well-being of its citizens and the preservation of its natural heritage. The voters, too, must exercise their right to vote wisely, choosing candidates based on merit and their capability to bring about positive change. Together, we can transform Dehradun into a city that thrives and prospers for generations to come.
(Paramjit Singh Kakkar is associated with PRAMUKH and Nature Science Initiative Trust)
