PNS | DEHRADUN
With the Urban Local Body (ULB) elections drawing near, the Dehradun Citizen Forum (DCF) will organise a Mayor Samvad programme at the Press Club on January 18. During this event, the mayoral candidates of Dehradun will present their views on the city’s green agenda.
A member of the DCF, Jagmohan Mehdiratta stated that the ‘Mayor Samvad’ will start at 12 noon. “This event will be conducted in a dignified manner sans acrimony. Each candidate will be given 12 minutes to share his vision with the stipulation that they must focus solely on their plans for Dehradun,” he said, adding that the candidates must keep their followers outside the venue of the programme. “No sloganeering will be allowed inside while the programme is on,” he said.
Another member Anoop Nautiyal said that they would try to obtain commitments from the mayoral candidates regarding their plans to implement the green agenda for the city if they are elected. “Citizens’ participation in elections is limited to voting. However, this is the first time that the citizen community of Dehradun is actively engaging in the electoral process in an organised manner, addressing the demands and expectations of the common people,” he said.
He further said that DCF had released a State-level green agenda for all political parties on January 6. “We have sent this agenda to political parties, social organisations, dignitaries and trade bodies. Further, a separate green agenda has been drafted specifically for the mayoral candidates and shared with the candidates from major political parties,” he said.
Commenting on the initiative, DCF member Bharti Jain said that the green agenda for the mayoral candidates reflects the needs and expectations of the Doonites. “It includes measures such as proper garbage collection and disposal after separation, imposing fines for burning garbage and establishing scientifically managed garbage dumping zones, among other points,” she said. She further said that mayoral candidates from political parties they approached have appreciated their Green Agenda and agreed to participate in the ‘Mayor Samvad’.
