Mysuru: The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) had invited the public to participate in a pre-Budget meeting for the year 2018-19 and to give their suggestions. However, there was a lukewarm response as hardly anybody turned up.

In the meeting chaired by Mayor B. Bhagyavathi at the Council Hall of the Corporation here yesterday, only very few people came and gave their opinions. In fact the Corporators who had come to listen to the people were more in number and actively participated in the discussion. Hence, the city fathers just shifted their roles and gave suggestions unlike when they meet during Council meetings and debate aggressively.

Corporator  J.S. Jagadish said that instead of the Budget being only a document should be closer to reality while it is presented. The programmes should be chalked out based on the revenue collected by the Corporation. Hence, there is no point in announcing grandiose schemes which cannot be implemented. The focus should be on development and setting up of stadiums for the benefit of the people, he added.

State Nayaka Hitarakshana Vedike leader Devappa Nayak urged for the construction of Valmiki Bhavan, which is a demand of the community for more than a decade. Hence, it should be given importance in the next Budget. Added to this, the Grant should also be set aside for the statue of Maharishi Valmiki. The ST students who pass in competitive exams should be given scholarships to encourage  them, he said.

Former Deputy Mayor Omkar Prasad said that the traffic problems are increasing in the city. The signal systems must be in place in all important junctions and working efficiently. Also the road humps and barricades must be erected properly to prevent accidents, he added.

Pink autos

Former Deputy Mayor Pushpavalli said, the MCC should come forward to empower women. It should once again start encouraging Sthree Shaktis involved in cottage industries. Just like in Bengaluru, pink autos for women should be implemented here and the women should be helped with subsidy to purchase autos and given driver training.

Chairman of City Planning and Improvement Standing Committee Balasubramanya (Snake Shyam) said that the parks which are lying in a state of neglect should be converted into social forestry parks. Ugly barricades on Sayyaji Rao Road should be removed and replaced with aesthetic designed ones.

State Nekarara Hitarakshana Samithi President S. Diwakar echoing the views of Snake Shyam said that if steel barricades are placed, it would look very beautiful. Corporator Shankar said that the taxes must be collected from the new layouts transferred from MUDA to MCC.

Deputy Mayor M.K. Indira, MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha, Health Standing Committee Chairman K.T. Cheluvegowda, Finance Standing Committee Chairman K.P. Ashwini, former Mayors Srikantaiah and R. Lingappa, Corporator Shivakumar and others were present.