Civic Experts and Citizens Rally in Pune to Promote Informed Voting

Pune, 29th June 2025: As the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections approach after a three-year delay, a group of civic activists, journalists, environmentalists, and former officials convened at the Gokhale Institute for a special seminar titled “Voter Awareness Campaign”. The event aimed to promote informed, responsible, and performance-based voting in the upcoming local elections.

The session also marked the 600th meeting of ‘RTI Katta’, a longstanding citizen engagement initiative led by RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar. Kumbhar emphasized the urgency of active civic participation, stating, “Every citizen must feel empowered to ask questions. The RTI Library we created is now at risk of shutting down. It’s time we work together to preserve such democratic platforms.”

The seminar was jointly organized by Vijay Kumbhar and senior journalist Vinita Deshmukh, with the central message being: vote based on performance, not promises.

Vandana Chavan: ‘Citizen Participation Must Go Beyond Paper’ NCP leader and environmentalist Vandana Chavan criticized the delay in holding civic elections, noting that blaming COVID was no longer a valid excuse. “It has been three years since elections were due. In a democracy, participation must be more than symbolic — it must be constant and active,” she said. Chavan urged voters to raise their voices and hold corporators accountable for their performance.

Vinita Deshmukh: ‘Pune Is Becoming Unlivable – Hold PMC Responsible’ Veteran journalist Vinita Deshmukh voiced alarm over Pune’s worsening infrastructure. “The city is becoming unlivable. The PMC must answer for issues related to traffic, water supply, waste management, and electricity,” she said. Deshmukh called on citizens to demand transparency and reject hollow campaign slogans.

Dr. Mahesh Zagade: ‘Voters Are Kings, but Democracy Is in Crisis’ Dr. Mahesh Zagade, former Principal Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra and former Pune Municipal Commissioner, delivered a compelling keynote speech. “Voters are the real kings in a democracy, but today, democracy itself is under threat. Even after serving in PMC, I still can’t understand the role of an MLA in city governance,” he remarked. Dr. Zagade said Pune’s issues stem from poor governance and inactive elected officials, adding, “We don’t need more promises—just fulfill what’s already committed. From traffic management to environmental protection, the basics have been ignored for too long.”

Activists and Youth Add Their Voice The seminar also saw participation from environmentalist Rahul Bhaskar, RJ Sangram Khodpe, Sarang Yadvadkar, and Tanmay Kanitkar, founder of the citizens’ collective ‘Parivartan’. They spoke on the need for citizen involvement to combat unplanned urban growth, pollution, and traffic congestion. A participant noted, “There is no such thing as a good or bad democracy—what matters is who holds power and how they use it.”

Campaign Plans Ahead: Outreach and Oversight The Voter Awareness Campaign will continue through seminars, public questionnaires, and social media. Key focus areas include: - Educating voters on rights and responsibilities - Encouraging merit-based voting - Engaging with housing societies, youth groups, and RWAs - Alerting the public if underperforming corporators or their relatives contest elections

A Call to Action In a city facing crumbling infrastructure and administrative apathy, the seminar served as a timely reminder that real change begins with informed voting. “Everyone knows what the problems are, but we avoid confronting them. That must change. The time to ask tough questions is now,” said one attendee. As Pune waits for its long-overdue civic elections, one message rang loud and clear: “The city doesn’t need something new — it needs its leaders to finally do the basics right.”