For ‘comprehensive’ Lokpal,IAC volunteers return to streets

“We plan to spread awareness not only regarding the Bill but also give an update on what is happening at the Central level. What are the different versions of the Bill and why is Anna Hazare fighting for a different version from that of the Government,” said IAC member Naresh Thakur.

The volunteers from IAC have already begun the awareness campaign,which involves volunteers distributing pamphlets to citizens and urging them to join the protest by Anna Hazare on December 11. “Anna and thousands of IAC volunteers will go on a token fast on December 11. If the government fails to close all pending issues,an indefinite fast will commence on December 27. We have asked citizens to join us in the protest at Azad Maidan during those days,” said Thakur.

In a bid to spread awareness,members of the IAC organised a train rally on Saturday on their way to a venue at Chinchpokli where a meeting was organised to plan for the protests next week. More than 1,000 volunteers took part in the rally and boarded trains from various stations on their way to Chinchpokli.

The local train and the stations were charged with the patriotic slogans and demands for a fair and comprehensive Jan Lokpal bill,” said Thakur.

Meanwhile,in a bid to check corruption at the civic level,the IAC volunteers have planned to monitor the civic elections of 2012. Each ward will have a group of volunteers who will monitor and check the civic activities and election process in each of the 227 wards.

The group is also planning to replicate their whistle campaign to bring other government agencies under the campaign wherein citizens can simply SMS their complaints regarding government officials to the IAC.

“The success of the whistle campaign,where citizens’ could complaint against errant auto or taxi drivers and in turn the state authorities accepting these complaints has encouraged us to include other government agencies under this campaign,” said IAC member Manan Gandhi.