Gen Y’s views count, as a matter of policy

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In a move that could instill a sense of ownership and pride among Delhi’s young janta, the government has asked civic authorities to seek public opinion on policy matters. Youngsters who are increasingly becoming critical of developments in the city because it is all so arbitrarily done, without the involvement of the common man could take heart from this. And people say this should bring a sense of pride among Delhiites — the lack of which is blamed on the pathetic condition of public CWG property in the city.
The government has ordered the MCD to seek public opinion before implementing an anti-littering law under which there could be a sizeable increase in fines for littering in public.
Govind Singh, of Delhi Greens, an NGO that works for sustained development in the city, comments on the move, saying, “Involving citizens, or more appropriately, local people always helps in better planning as well as implementation of a policy or programme. But a lot depends on how the public is involved and who among the locals is helping.”
But as the city has been known to have an ownership crisis, no matter how small, it does make sense to involve people in policies that matter to them. Govind adds, “As far as apathetic condition of public property with respect to Delhi is concerned, it is a much more complex issue. People are as much to blame as the government.”
And when talking about public participation and debating matters that affect citizens, youngsters have a long list of laws that they feel need to be reviewed keeping in mind, ground-realities. Arjun Natrajan, a lawyer, quips, “As the structure of Board exams and curriculum undergoes changes, the government has made it clear that it plans to change models of education. As a result there is uncertainty among students regarding Board examinations, results, semesters and courses at degree level. So, youngsters’ opinion is necessary before the course structure and curriculum undergoes a change.”
Piyush Karmakar, a DU student, adds, “The law against smoking in public places in the city needs to be reviewed because clearly it’s a failure on many grounds,” and points out that laws related to homosexuals should be debated too. Regarding the demolition of illegal slums to make way for development work is concerned, Murphy John, whose NGO, Come Together Foundation, helps underprivileged kids in Delhi slums, says, “These slums are in no manner hampering society and although these are for lower income groups, people do live a life of dignity.”
They all feel that involving public opinion is indeed a welcome step, but keeping in mind, the arbitrary manner in which CWG developments took place, the city also feels that the step should have come much earlier. “If this is done keeping the CWG in mind, I think it’s too little and too late,” sums up Govind.