Citizen convention to get civil amenities in Patna

Patna, June 4: 

When the common people are reeling under acute price rise, the government and its different agencies/institutions are increasing the burden of taxes. The common people of

From Left: Naresh Kumar, Anamika & Jagadish Prasad

Bihar and of its capital Patna have the same fate. Recently the holding tax has been increased two times byPatna Municipal Corporation.  Not only this, the registry fee has been enhanced by increasing the government rate of lands. The rates for water supply and cleanness has been increased. Even the holding tax has been imposed on unused lands. On the other hand the record of Patna Municipal Corporation is very bad regarding the cleanness of the city, maintenance of parks, arrangement of street lights, supply of drinking water and other civil amenities. No proper arrangement is there in different wards and localities to collect garbage. Dumps of garbage and rubbish are  commonly visible in the major localities, lanes and roads. The announcement of cleaning of underground drains, open drains and chambers goes wind the winds. A scene of hell in rainy season is quite visible in major localities. Even Patna Municipal Corporation and Patna Jal Parshad is not efficient in proper supply of water. In night, practically there is no street lights arrangement even on the main roads and lanes. Majority of parks are in worst condition due to lack of sufficient staff. No arrangements are made for the prevention of rapid growing of mosquitoes. Municipal Corporation is suffering from the acute shortage of permanent employees.

Anamika addressing the citizens

The citizens of Patna have started organizing under the  banner of Nagrik Sangharsha Samiti (Citizens Struggle Committee) against the anti democratic and anti people steps of Patna Municipal Corporation. At first a dharna was staged at Dinkar Roundabout, Nala Road to press demands. And on 4^th June, 2013 a Citizen’s Convention was organized at IMA Hall.

Sadhana Mishra, Secretar, SUCI (Communist) Patna District Committee and Suryakar Jitendra, Member, SUCI (Communist) Patna District Committee addressed the convention among others. They said, “The governments proclaiming themselves as public welfare state are shirking the social responsibilities gradually and are inclining to submit those all to private owners. As a result majority of people are condemned to live under utter poverty and destitution. In the name of ‘good governance’ and ‘development with justice’ the state government too following the same anti people and pro capitalist policies of privatization, liberalization and globalization.” The speakers observed that the total apathy and indifferent attitude of Government, Municipal Corporation and administration towards availing the civil amenities to citizens and much activeness in increasing the burden of taxes left no other alternative but the struggle against it. The convention was addressed by many social and political activists along with some ward councilors. All the speakers appealed the citizens and stressed the need to develop united and sustained movement against the anti people steps and for availing civil amenities. The main resolution of the convention was moved by Mohan Prasad, Convener, Nagrik Sangharsha Samiti and conducted by a 5 member presidium including Anamika, Member, SUCI (Communist) Patna District Committee.