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Next on Hazare’s agenda: right to recall corporators by Manoj More

After the Lokpal bill, Anna Hazare will turn his attention to the “right to recall a corporator” he had been advocating, supporters say. Hazare has been saying that the provision for “right to recall a corporator” should be made in the state government’s Area Sabha Act now under review.

Vijay Kumbhar, president of the Surajya Sangharsh Samiti, said Hazare and RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal are members of the special study group appointed by the state government to review the Area Sabha Act.

“The Act had already been passed but is being reviewed by a special study group. It includes the all-important provision of holding ward sabhas. However, there is a difference of opinion on various provisions including whether the provision of right to recall a corporator should be included in Area Sabha Act or there should be a separate Act altogether,” he said. Whatever the case, Kumbhar said, activists are strongly in favour of recalling non-performing corporators and hopeful of Anna making a pitch for it as he had for the Lokpall bill.

Maruti Bhapkar, a close associate of Hazare, said, “In a couple of days, we will go to Ralegan Siddhi to urge Anna to revive the demand to enact a law for right to recall a corporator. Anna himself has been pressing for it for long. At every public meeting held in cities, he has harped on this theme, which is very dear to me.”

Bhapkar, a corporator himself, said he won’t mind being recalled. “But it will keep corporators on their toes, which will benefit the public,” he said.

Vihar Dhurve, president of Wings India, another NGO, said activists and NGOs not only in Pune, but across Maharashtra are confident Anna would take it as he had the Lokpal issue. “When Anna was in the city last year, he suggested several amendments to the Area Sabha Act. Among them included right to recall. At our next meeting with Anna, we would urge him to prevail upon the state government to make the provision or enact a separate Act,” Dhurve said.

Kumbhar, however, said activists differed on the nature of the law they are proposing. “While RTI activst Arvind Kejriwal believes that every year, the fate of corporators should be decided, some activists believe it should be every two years as the corporator should be given enough time. Recalling or sitting in judgement over his performance in just a year will not be fair,” he said.

Agrees Kishori Gadre of Janwani, an NGO, “We believe this concept needs to be properly studied before giving it effect, or else it would lead to a chaotic situation. Even otherwise, what are the powers of a corporator ? All the powers are with the administration. Therefore, proper thought needs to be given before implementing the concept.” Last year, in a meeting in the city, Hazare had questioned the credibility of corporators and recommended major reforms in the Area Sabha Act whereby local citizens will be empowered to elect on their own the head of area sabhas and will have the right to recall a corporator. “The Act in its current form is toothless, and it does not intend to decentralise power to public,” he had said.