Pune: The Civic Agency has invited suggestions from citizens regarding public work that can be done in their area with a participatory budget for the financial year of 2022-23.
Civil activists, however, said that many citizens did not know the initiative and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) needed more aggressive in bringing it to the maximum number of possible people.
The Civic body must quote an example of a job conducted by participatory budget processes on websites and social media platforms to encourage residents to submit their proposals, activists said.
Officials say that the option of submitting online applications is being provided this year because of the ongoing pandemic besides the physical delivery of the form.
Vaishali Patkar, who has suggested civil works over the past few years, said that the initiative was good, but had not reached many people.
“For this, administration must hold a meeting with residents to understand the sentiment and requirements of people.
It has also been observed that many suggested works based on initiatives come from supporters of political leaders.
Administration must also consider work suggested by ordinary citizens,” he added.
Vivek Velankar from ALAG Nagrik Manch said that PMC had to share the details of the work carried out over the past few years with the participatory budget.
Sharing details will increase people’s trust, encourage them to produce more suggestions.
Otherwise, the whole exercise will only remain on paper, the Velarak said.