Age-old problem @ BMP

Age-old problem @ BMP
Deccan Herald

The right mix of the young and the old corporators is perhaps the best recipe for a local body. We need to strike a balance between enthusiasm of the young and the experience of the old.


Rahul Gandhis, Sachin Pilots or the Milind Deoras are simply missing from the political landscape of the IT City.

Even as political parties in the national level are infusing young blood into politics, Bangalore seems to have sidelined the younger brigade. The City has only 12 corporators aged below 30 years.

A City that is all set to redefine its boundary, with the merger of the Greater Bangalore, the BMP Council elections will throw the same challenge as always - hunting for the 'able' candidates for the 148 wards. Going through the age-profile of the current elected representatives, the young still seem aloof.


In India, 70 per cent of the population is below 35 years, as per an estimate of the United Nations. Going by the same argument, if the Bangalore City has a population of 70 lakhs, there are about 49 lakh people below the age of 35 years. However, the number of corporators falling within the same age bracket (below 35 years) is just 25.

What keeps the young away from politics?

The political parties have a different take on the subject.

Says a JD(S) corporator B R Nanjundappa, “The Party encourages both young and the old alike. What counts is their commitment to the job. However, we do feel there is a need to strike a balance between the older and younger folks. Now where do you get the 'right' candidate for a seat that is subject to rotation (reservation category) every elections?"

H Ravindra, Ruling party (Congress) leader in the BMP says, "We cannot expect candidates younger than 30 years, because, the Party prefers someone with atleast 10 years of experience in the field. He or she should be popular in the ward."

Adds Mayor Mumtaz Begum “The selection of candidates is left to the discretion of the Party High Command. The basic requirement is however, the primary membership of the party and one’s work as a party-worker. Here, the age or educational criteria are only secondary.”

Former Mayor and corporaor PR Ramesh begs to differ. "Today, we have opened up new avenues for the youngsters to enter politics and take part in the development of the city. A corporator is more of a social worker than a politician as he is always amidst the people. The third-level of governance gives ample scope for active youth to take the plunge. However, in our party, we have great demand for the seat, and both the young and the old have equal chances of being chosen as the candidate."

Meanwhile, what worries the Party leaders is the scarcity of women candidates and youth leaders. Most youth, especially women are chosen by default to satisfy the reservation requirement. "As and when the reservation seats are changed by rotation, the choice becomes limited as we might not have a good candidate with such specification," rues Nanjundappa.

"Some women candidates are entering the Council (after elections) direct from their kitchens," jokes Mr Ramesh. However, he supports the idea of such 'wild card' entries. "Though some end up as dummies, many women learn on the job and work efficiently. I only hope the freshers are given proper orientation through workshops and training programmes," he adds.

N Indira (25)

Corporator

It is a pity that not many youngsters are entering politics. I consider it a great privilege to be a corporator. You get an

opportunity to solve people’s problems, and also contribute towards creating a better city.

Being the youngest corporator (elected at 21), I learnt most part of my work on the job. At the end of five years, I still feel it has been a good career option.

N Munireddy (34)

Corporator

I was only about 30, when I was elected the corporator from Ward 74. It is no bed of roses for a young corporator. There are many hurdles on your path. During the initial years of your career, you have little support. But you have every opportunity to learn things from your seniors or from personal experience. But I have no regrets for having

entered this field. The Young have hope.



P R Ramesh (47)

Former Mayor and Corporator

Politics does not lure the younger generation, which is growing more

individualistic. A general sense of apathy towards the City, society and the country seems to have set in. But we need more and more youngsters to contest elections and be part of the governance. The combination of the ‘young and the enthusiastic’ with the ‘old and experienced’ is apt for better administration of the City.

In Bangalore City there are 100 corporators. Following is the agewise grouping:

Corporators age

(in years ) %

20-25 03

26-30 09

31-35 13

36-40 32

41-45 24

46-50 07

50 & above 12