Prakash Belawadi - Manifesto BBMP 2010 elections

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike ElectionsElections – 28 March 2010 – 28 March 2010

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LOKSATTALOKSATTA

Loksatta provides a political platform to take electoral politics head on, a platform which millions of Indian people have been looking for! Every time they look at the options before them, they wonder which one of them is the worst! This is where Loksatta Party comes in - giving them a choice they can be proud of. Political parties are the only way of engaging with the Government. We cannot shun Politics. NGOs make an impact in specific areas, and independents make a short-term impact. But, a successful political party full of moral, upright, efficient, intelligent statesmen Leaders can make a huge impact across the Nation.

Loksatta is proud to present distinguished citizens of the city as its candidates for Bengaluru’s local government. Candidates who do not view politics as a business proposition but as an opportunity to give something back to society.

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Prakash BelawadiSunkenahalli

I am a journalist and a theatre enthusiast. I have also directed a feature film, Stumble which won a National Award in 2003, besides directing several plays, documentary films and TV serials - Garva and Illiruvudu Summane. My parents too were Kannada theatre personalities - Makeup Nani and Bhargavi Narayan. I was awarded the Pratibha Bhushan by the Karnataka government in 2003.

I have deep roots in the area surrounding Gandhi Bazaar. I was born here and grew up on Puttanna Road. I did my early education at Mahila Seva Samaja and later joined National High School and National College. I learned to swim at the well in Maratha Hostel on Bull Temple Road and went to rallies at the National College Grounds to listen to the greatest political orators of the age.

For me and many others of my generation, the area is as much a center of the world as is New York or London. This was the area that created Dr HN's Bangalore Science Forum, YNK, Lankesh, that inspired Nisar Ahmed to write a poem on it and moved Gopalakrishna Adiga to contest a Lok Sabha election.

I ask for your vote, and I promise you the very best public service in return.



Ward ManifestoPrakash Belawadi –

Sunkenahalli

Daily Issues

• Waste management should be improved.• Electricity supply is erratic.• Water supply is not 24X7• Traffic is some parts of the ward is chaotic• Security –people feel insecure even in their own homes!

My Solution:

• The problems will keep changing, so we need a system that is CONTINUOUS in paying attention to the problems. We will have regular hearings to get complaints and suggestions from citizens, and SYSTEMATIC follow-up with the authorities.



Sunkenahalli

Infrastructure • The Tagore Circle Underpass is a sore point for many citizens in

the area, not only for the debatable reasons of usefulness, but also because of the way the project took off - overnight, almost furtive, without public participation in decision-making.

• The area has already protested in the past, unsuccessfully, over the National College flyover that is now a proven stupidity and, rather successfully, with another proposed flyover at Ramakrishna Math on Bull Temple Road.

My Solution:

To ensure public hearings on projects and greater transparency.



Sunkenahalli Heritage

• This is a true heritage ward of Bangalore. The water from the

feet of the Big Bull at Basavanagudi used to form a lake in the past (Karanji). Now there is the Big Bull and the Karanji Anjaneya Temple at Gandhi Bazaar, but no water anywhere. The overflow from this lake was the starting point of River Vrishabhavati (Vrishabha the Bull) that is a stinking sewer that flows past Binny Garden towards Kengeri.

• Kempegowda I built the great Kempambudhi Tank at the west border of the ward. The tank is now being restored under a centre-sponsored scheme. Overflow from the historic River Arkavati was supposed to fill the tank. The Kadlekai Parishe (Groundnut Festival) is a big draw annually and the temples of the areas date back to many hundreds of years.



Sunkenahalli Heritage (contd)

• Mahatma Gandhi visited National High School along the

eastern border of the ward and the late Dr H Narasimhaiah, a legend of the area, translated Gandhi's speech into Kannada. And Gandhi Bazaar, in the heart of the ward, is a centre of the Kannada renaissance of the 70's new cinema, theatre and literature.

My Solution:

• Create a ward plan to ensue protection of heritage sites• Convert the annual cultural festivals of the area from the idea

of "mess" to "celebration“• Monitor restoration projects.



Sunkenahalli

Representation • My promise is that I will represent the ward's aspirations and

problems for the next five years, whether I win or lose.

• And I will represent it not just through political means, but use all the means I have in theatre, journalism and public life in the arts.


Loksatta – Trusting the citizens

Prakash Belawadi

Putting the citizens first 1. It’s our city – Resident Welfare Associations and other

citizens’ groups should have formal legal rights to oversee ward works, and spend BBMP budget money on their local preferences. Ward committees should be elected, not nominated.

2. Bring back the garden city – Let us spend money wisely, to promote a good quality of life. Improve pedestrian safety and ease of movement, design public spaces well, and manage the local environment intelligently to protect it and also save money.

Vote for Loksatta, Power to you

Six things you can do to help me…1. Ensure all voters in your

household are on the voter rolls.

2. Vote on Election Day, 28 Mar 2010 (Sunday)

3. Tell 10 friends in your ward about me and Loksatta.

4. Encourage 10 other voters to join you and vote on election day.

5. Join my campaign for a better Sunkenahalli

6. Be my polling agent on election day, 28 Mar 2010.

News & Politics

Prakash Belawadi - Manifesto BBMP 2010 elections