Rashtriya Yuva Sangathan Lok Ummidwar : Peoples’ Candidate An Experiment In Democracy Bijawar (Madhya Pradesh) • State Election in Madhya Pradesh are scheduled in November 2013 • Total Villages in Bijawar Constituency are 225 • RYS has been actively working in this area for last 5 years • The area of influence is in around 75 villages • RYS has already reached out to close to 90 villages with this novel concept of Peoples’ Candidate • Constitution of RYS mandates that its member would never contest an election or be part of the party politics.
Transcript
Rashtriya Yuva SangathanLok Ummidwar : Peoples’ Candidate An Experiment In DemocracyBijawar (Madhya Pradesh)
•State Election in Madhya Pradesh are scheduled in November 2013•Total Villages in Bijawar Constituency are 225•RYS has been actively working in this area for last 5 years•The area of influence is in around 75 villages•RYS has already reached out to close to 90 villages with this novel concept of Peoples’ Candidate•Constitution of RYS mandates that its member would never contest an election or be part of the party politics.
Concept : Lok UmmidwarAs of now the candidates are
selected by the parties and hence they are responsible to them and their high command of the party. Gandhian alternative is that people should select their own candidate, so that he/she is responsible to them and remain under their control.
Democracy in BijawarBijawar, Assembly constituency is of 225 villages in
Chattarpur district of MP. The society is feudal and deeply divided on caste
lines, with no basic necessities available. Close to 40% of population is illiterate.
The constituency consists of fair number of Adivasis and minority
The voters are around 200,000. Of the three top candidates of last election, the
sitting MLA has just been released from jail on bail, her husband is already in the jail for life for raping and murdering a minor. Ex-candidate from Congress is also facing serious criminal charges and candidate of the third major party BSP is also in Jail.
Our Role We have already had three rounds of visits- on foot, cycles
and in vehicles, and touched base on close to 90 villages. Fourth round of more than 100 volunteers is planned during 24-30 August 2013, in which senior Gandhians and young RYS volunteer from all over the country, would participate in this path breaking experiment.
We are creating citizens’ committee in each village, asking all, irrespective of their, cast, class, religion and sex, to select one candidate by consensus. The conditions for an ideal candidacy are pre-decided.
Finally we would potentially have 225, one from each village. This will form a High Command for the Peoples’ Candidate from Bijawar constituency. Together they, other than their own name, reach to a consensus on one name. The idea is to short list a candidate based on the criteria decided by the people.
The selected candidate then signs a legal document promising the high command he/she would not stray on the popular path of corruption, and if were caught doing so, would resign. After which, the high command would select another candidate by the same process and replace him.
Alternative in its True Sense
Election process today is highly divisive and violent, the new system will create cohesive, peaceful, active and participatory election process
It replaces corrupt and self seeking, highly centralised party-system.
Citizen’s committee will remain active throughout and keep check on its MLA.
Right to Recall and Re-election will be embedded in the process
It will control the unlimited expenses on election Elected candidate will need to visit the
constituency periodically and report his/her work and be guided by the peoples’ High Command.
Budget
From June-December 2013 BudgetOffice 50,000Local Travel (two Wheeler, four Wheeler, Bus, Fuel etc) 500000Travel Expenses for visitors from all across the country 150000Publicity (pamphlets, banners, wall writing, email, mega mike, SMS etc) 500000
Lodging and Boarding of volunteers 150000
Other Expenses 150000
Total1,500,00
0Your donations should be in the name of Rashtriya Yuva Sangathan, which issues official receipt for each donation
Some Images
Volunteers in villages, or road and in school, daring the adverse weather and circumstances.
While most work is volunteer, we would still need some basic things like food, shelter, fuel, pamphlets, mike. While we are putting in all that we have, are you willing to chip in at least a bit?
Local Media Coverage
Be our FriendsRashtriya Yuva Sangathan
Jayprakash Chowk, Kumarappa Road, Near State Bank, Wardha 4420012
We are sending you this appeal because you know us! Even if you don’t, is it not more important to know the work, than know the individuals?
Kumar Prashant 09919788661 Amit Bhatnagar: 09588402600Manoj : 096764271199 Dr Vishwajeet: 09437218717Bhupesh Bhushan: 09165970043 Prashant: 08007011887K Dhruv: 09329842221 Prerana: 09769838621
