Rise of the citizen warriors

In 2016, nearly 10,000 people came out onto the streets to protest against the government’s proposed steel flyover from Chalukya Circle to Hebbal. Their resounding victory has helped the citizen ‘army’ gather steam, with a battery of well-intentioned residents stepping in to protect the city from the vested interests of self-serving politicians and babus. What drives our citzen activists, ask Chandrashekar G. and Aknisree Karthik

“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." This oft-used and even more oft-misused quote from John F. Kennedy's inaugural address has never rung truer than here in Bengaluru. Falling apart at the hands of corrupt politicians and inept administrators, it is the army of citizen activists that have stepped boldly into the fray, snatching their city back from the brink of chaos. 

Whether it was the relentless protest that brought the government to its knees, forcing it to scrap the controversial steel flyover in 2016, or pressure placed on authorities to take the much-needed steps towards the neglected suburban rail project, which has been in cold storage for a year: the people of Bengaluru seem to have found a sure fire way of standing up for their city. These groups of well-meaning citizens have also taken a united stand against the pollution of lakes and are determined to fight the new draft on Common Zoning Regulations, which will increase commercialisation in residential areas. On Sunday, the threat of another steel flyover drew people to the streets in droves, to protest against the proposed Shivananda Steel Bridge. What does it take to draw people out onto the streets? Why are citizen activists different?

Namma Bengaluru Foundation CEO, Sridhar Pabbisetty said "Apart from our fundamental rights, there are many fundamental duties which we as citizens are supposed to do. According to me, Bengaluru represents the epicentre of changing India and has already set an example in citizenship that is worth emulating across other cities, too.”

When is a citizen-driven protest of this scale necessary? The issue is examined according to three major criteria, Pabbisetty explains. “The first is to check on citizen participation in drafting the policy concerned. Second, it looks at whether or not the policy is multi-year and has a vision. Third, is the project going to be carried forth in a transparent manner?”

Rajashekar D.S., president of Citizen's Action Forum says that citizen ‘activists’ are regular people, for the most part. “They have their own work and family, taking time out of their schedules to devote time to a cause.” And citizen activism, he says, doesn’t stop at just organising protests, holding placards and shouting slogans.

"There are times when our protests make no difference and the babus refuse to budge. Then, we are left with no option but to take the matter to court and that isn’t easy,"  he explained. “For instance, if the matter has to be taken to the Supreme Court, bringing in lawyers, even on a pro bono basis for the documentation process can cost around Rs 3 lakh.”

He added that citizens, RWAs and various foundations all pool in the money and fight cases for the betterment of society.

‘Civic participation a must’
Taking on the government has proved an arduous, often fruitless process.  However, proactive, well-intentioned citizens, spurred on by social media which has worked wonders towards rallying the masses, have risen to the challenge with aplomb. Together, they’re ready to take on any challenge if it means protecting the interests of their city.  Authorities can scarcely afford to do anything but toe the line; a proposal that even hints at controversy, will, in all likelihood, have the citizen army up in arms.

N. S. Mukunda, founding president of Citizens’ Action Forum (CAF) and a key petitioner before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding the pollution of Bellandur lake says that a true democracy will not have room (or reason) for protest. Any project which is over Rs. 5 crore should only be taken up in consultation with the citizens. 

The reasons behind the rejecting an objection voice by the citizens should be updated on the website to assure total transparency and to make the information available in a public domain for future reference. Some projects merely involve shifting the problem from one place to another, at a whopping expense. Holis tic thinking is the need of the hour, Mukunda emphasises.  “A cost-intensive steel flyover which requires periodical maintenance is not the solution to connectivity to and from Kempegowda Inter national Airport – the Metro and the development of three alternative roads had already been proposed. Why was a steel bridge necessary?” he demanded.

Projects of this nature, he feels, should be long-term and must solve problems on a macro level, rather than providing a cost-intensive micro approach. 

“As far as lakes are concerned, changing the mindset of public representatives and bureaucrats is key. Developing jogging and walking tracks is insignificant. The eco-system and water security are far more important. However, citizens needed to wage war to make the government understand and acknowledge the importance of water and our water bodies,” he said.

Some of the major protests led by citizens

• Protest against the proposed steel flyover between Chalukya Circle and Hebbal
• Protest against cutting down of 112 trees to widen Jayamahal Road
• The demand for the implementation of suburban rail in tandem with Namma Metro
• A citizens’ watch committee named 'United Bengaluru' was formed to reclaim the city’s lakes.
• Citizens thronged to join BBMP ward committees. When their names did not figure in the list, they filed RTIs and are contem plating moving the court to ensure that the selection for ward committees is made transparent, with more importance given to citizens.
• Citizens allege that the rules for RERA have been framed to favour builders rather than consumers. 
• The commercialisation of residential areas has been opposed for almost a decade. The fight has gained new vigour with the government’s new draft on Common Zoning Regulations. 
• The opposition for the construction of a steel bridge at Shivananda Circle.

If lakes have chance of survival, it’s because of citizen activists: Vijayan Menon, member of Citizens Actions Forum
At the outset, I would like to say that I owe the city’s administration, its netas and babus so much. I must thank them for bringing new meaning to my life, for providing me with a new career. Their continuous inefficiency, unaccountability and the absence of any real city planning expertise has spawned a whole new generation of unabashed civic activists.

A role once reserved for people “past their expiry date”, or those stepped in radical philosophies, urban civic activists in Bengaluru seem to have come of age. They are now from a large pool that spans backgrounds, age, gender and profession. They are fortunate enough to remain unencumbered by any ideology aside from their love for their city. And with their collective, vastly varied expertise, they seem to have a nose for ferreting out the senseless, wasteful, non-scientific, non-sustainable and sometimes Machiavellian designs. Their successes, I’m sure, are the cause of sleepless nights in the corridors of power!

The most recent, perhaps one of the most noteworthy events to take place in  Bengaluru was the agitation against the steel flyover. The obnoxious Akrama Sakrama bill is gathering dust in the Supreme Court and we hope that it will be consigned to dustbins from there! Every improvement in the solid waste management process owes its success to citizen intervention on ground and in the courts. The very anti-residential neighbourhood provisions of the Masterplan 2015 were reversed through a Public Interest Litigation. A curious attempt to pass another senseless zoning law is now being resisted. The audacious attempt to try and develop a 100-acre monstrosity on the wetlands of Bellandur Lake was also put to an end by citizens who approached the National Green Tribunal.

If lakes have any chance at survival today, it is due to the efforts of citizen watchdogs. Commuter rail is on the planning table now, after having been shelved for a year, thanks to continuous citizen advocacy. The adherence to the 74th Constitutional Amendment, which involved the setting up of the Municipal Planning Authority was because of citizen activism. Even a matter as basic as forming Ward Committees required citizen groups to approach the government with an offer the latter couldn’t refuse! There have been countless more wins at a ward and neighbourhood level.

One must not blame the politician. Nobody told him, after all, that his primary aim of being re-elected is best served by him actually doing something good for the people! And the bureaucracy: let’s celebrate the handful of ardent reformers, provided we can find them!

However, I must say, in all humility and with the greatest respect and admiration towards the many urban activists I continue to learn from – Bengaluru is in good hands. May your tribe increase and hopefully, we reach a day where these efforts are no longer required.