I am a Bangalorean by birth. My father was an army officer, and we moved quite a bit around in India as a result. But I came back to Bangalore to do my last 3 yrs of schooling at the Cluny Convent School, Malleswaram, I then went to Mount Carmel College for my PUC. My childhood ambition was to become a doctor, and this was fulfilled when I was selected to join the prestigious St John's Medical College in 1976. I did my internship and initial training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St.Martha's Hospital, after which I went to JJM Medical College in Davangere for my diploma and then MD.

I run my own clinic called CART - Centre for Assisted Reproductive Techniques in Rajajinagar, where childless couples are treated with the various techniques of assisted reproduction. The treatment is made as affordable as possible ? so that even less privileged families can get help in having children.

After the 2004 general elections - in which many of my educated friends did not bother to vote - I decided I would do something about civic issues. I spent 2 years at Janagrahaa helping to identify and fix errors in voters' rolls. I then joined the Malleswaram Swabhimanaa Initiative and became a very active participant. This association helps solve the civic problems that the citizens face on a daily basis. In Aug 2007, she became the secretary of MSI. I continued to work on improving the accuracy of voters' lists - and in one booth the turnout increased from 44 to 68 per cent as a result.

I am also a founder member of the Citizens Action Forum, a group consisting of more than 500 RWAs in Bangalore formed in 2006. CAF has fought for sensible poliices and implementation of many citizen concerns like property tax, akrama/sakrama, and CDP. The role played by CAF in akrama/sakrama has resulted in the stalling the implementation of the scheme - which insults good taxpayers by excusing the misconduct of others, including builders and public officials.

I am passionate about environmental issues - especially solid waste management. I have generated awareness among the people to segregate waste at source. Over the last year I have led this initiative in Malleswaram with a few colleagues, and helped recycle a large quantity of paper and plastics. I have been working with the BBMP to facilitate this work. I am also keen on rain water harvesting to improve the water situation in Bangalore.

The main civic problems of our ward, and my solutions to these problems: Not enough public consultation: Almost all the decisions made for the development of the ward are made without asking the residents what they want. I will change this, and make public consultation the heart of decision-making in the ward. Voter lists are still not accurate: There are more than 300,000 voters in the city who have some problem or the other other with their voter registration. In Malleswaram Assembly Constituency, we have made things a little better. But ever here, we must work to make the improvements permanent. I will set up a process in the ward, at the neighbourhood level, that helps everyone get registered to vote. Waste management: We have been the pioneers of the 'responsible waste management' movement in the city. We must now make this take root across the ward, and promote all the necessary steps - sorting stations, market linkages, dumping fees, etc.

Six things you can do to help

1. Ensure all voters in your household are on the voter rolls. If not, please do so right away - check this link
2. Vote on Election Day, 28 Mar 2010. (Sunday)
3. Tell 10 friends in your ward about me and Loksatta
4. Encourage 10 other voters to join you and vote on election day.
5. Join my campaign for a better Aramane Nagara
6. Be my polling agent on election day, 28 Mar 2010.

Contact me
meenakshibharath@gmail.com