The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Platform to sort out issues of residents’ forums

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 04, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Platform to sort out issues of residents’ forums

Staff Reporter

Council to try out the model at PRIDE anniversary on January 12

KOCHI: The Ernakulam District Residents Association Apex Council (EDRAAC) is moving towards establishing platforms for interaction with different government bodies. If this works out, it will be the first of its kind in the country, said EDRAAC members.

The council will try out the model at the third anniversary of Police Residents Associations Initiative in District Ernakulam (PRIDE) to be held here on January 12. PRIDE has successfully evolved as a platform for sorting out issues that residents’ associations have with the police.

Monthly meetings and proper follow-ups have ensured a healthy relationship between the two agencies. According to the present system, local issues are sorted out at the meeting chaired by respective Circle Inspectors and rest are taken up at the meeting held on every second Saturday.

The EDRAAC has also started a similar interactive platform with the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and is discussing possibilities of a similar venture with the Kerala Water Authority (KWA).

The highlight of the PRIDE anniversary meeting would be the session marked out for interaction with various department heads, said P.K. Gopalakrishnan, general secretary, EDRAAC.

Platforms are being sought with District Collector, Corporation, Regional Transport Authority, District Supply Officer, Public Works Department, District Medical Officer, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Department of Post.

Entries received

The entries for the ‘Clean City, Safe City’ awards have started coming in. Four awards will be given to associations that are found to excel in cleanliness and safety aspects.

Aspects like general cleanliness, proper garbage bins, permanent cleaning staff, innovations like bio-gas for treatment of waste, mechanism for disposal of plastic waste, greenery and condition of internal roads will be checked for the Clean City award. Effective night patrolling, presence of security guard, installation of security equipment, police siren, and communication between members of the association are the aspects to be monitored for Safe City awards.

The awards carry cash prize of Rs.25,000 each and two persons each from the award-winning residents’ associations will get a chance to visit Singapore to study how cleanliness is maintained in a developed country.

Two separate monitoring committees comprising representatives of the corporation, the police and the public will visit the residents’ associations that have applied and evaluate the situation. The applications to participate in the award should reach the Office of the City Police Commissioner on or before January 5.

More participation

The initiative is gathering momentum in West Kochi region. While only five associations were represented in the second PRIDE anniversary meeting, the number has risen to 20 this time, said P.M. Xavier, secretary, EDRAAC, West Kochi region.

Efforts are continuing to increase the number of residents’ associations registering with the apex council.

On their part, the West Kochi regional committee is also planning to step up awareness campaign for supporting the tourism drive. This comes in the light of the harassment of a Swedish lady during New Year revelry at Fort Kochi casting a shadow on the cosmopolitan image that the region had.

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