Taking oath for one week

What three changes would you make during your week in power to improve the lives of the local people?

If I am the Mayor of my city for one week, I will do the following changes with my special powers to get things right:

The first change

I will do is issue an order to hit corruption where it lives. I will use this week to force transparency in the parts of local administration specially in procurement, permits, and hiring which is the root of all evils

I will make it mandatory to publish everything for all departments to upload current contracts, tenders, vendor lists, permit approvals, and staffing decisions to a single public portal within 24 hours no matter how much staff it takes to complete the job and it should be in simple, searchable format available anyone to see on internet.

This will include open contracting rule that every new or renewed contract above a small threshold say US $1000 or INR 95000 must show the tender notice, bidders, evaluation criteria, winner, and final price before work starts.

I will make it compulsory for all senior officials and decision makers to file and publish their basic asset with clear calculation of their sources of all income rules so every person responsible remain honest.

I will create a channel independently managed by me with reporting line for corruption, with legal protection and a public commitment to investigate and publish outcomes according the official rules to avoid legal complications.

I will audit the top 10 most complained-about departments or projects, with results published online and referrals to anti-corruption agencies where needed.

I know this doesn’t solve everything in a week, but it should raise the risk and cost of corrupt officials behavior besides empowering citizens and concerned persons to monitor decisions, and signals that the old system is over.

How much money approximately would your changes cost to implement, and how would you find the money? Would you have to make savings elsewhere to get the money?

It will cost nothing because I will use the available staff and resources.

Do you think your changes would stay in place after you have finished your week in power? Or would they quickly be changed back to how they used to be?

I know the system will change this all after my tenure s over but it will bring awareness in general public.

Who would support your changes, and who would oppose them?

Everyone who is looking for a change in system should be relieved as corruption is one of the root cause which is eating up this country. Corruption in this country is kind of free for all so if we could get rid of this evil, there is nothing that could stop our country reaching to the top in status and self sufficiency.

The second change

You know we have a serious problem of reservation system in jobs so candidates from particular communities with much lower qualification bypass the highly qualified candidates which creates unsatisfactory or even revolutionary atmosphere.

If I were Mayor of my city for one week, even if I would not attempt to remove the reservation system in jobs because reservation in public employment is mandated by the constitution of India and governed by central and state laws, and not within the power of a mayor. Mayor’s powers are limited to local civic functions like sanitation, parks, local roads, certain licenses and certainly do not extend to altering statutory recruitment rules or action policy.

But as a thought experiment, I would scrap reservations unilaterally which would be legally invalid and immediately stayed by courts, while risking social unrest and harming trust in institutions. Instead, I would use the week to improve implementation, audit vacancy data, fast-track pending recruitment, strengthen skill-development tie-ups for all communities, and ensure transparent, merit-based selection within the existing framework.

That approach respects the law, addresses genuine efficiency concerns, and keeps opportunity broad-based without creating chaos.

How much money approximately would your changes cost to implement, and how would you find the money? Would you have to make savings elsewhere to get the money?

It will cost nothing because I will use no money to but use my mind and enforce new rules within rules.

Do you think your changes would stay in place after you have finished your week in power? Or would they quickly be changed back to how they used to be?

I am sure the vote hungry system will laugh, scrap my rules and go back to old system as soon as my tenure is over but it will bring awareness in public.

Who would support your changes, and who would oppose them?

Every one seeking a job will be benefited if all is done systematically and gives n equal opportunity.

The third change

Finally if I were Mayor for a week, I’d focus on changes that make daily life easier for basic civic services. I would order a 7-day war-room operation to clear backlogs in street-light repairs, pothole patching on main routes, garbage-lift failures, and clogged drains which all are serious issues especially during rainy season that disrupt commutes, safety, and health.

I’d immediately set up display boards showing complaints received, staff deployment, and job completion report, with area wise targets and time-bound closures. To speed execution, I’d pre-approve emergency contracts, monitor work hours for municipal teams, and add extra shifts for lighting and road work to minimize traffic impact.

This all will result in safer streets, cleaner neighborhoods, lesser travel time, and most of all the trust of public that small problems can be fixed fast without needing new laws or big budgets.

How much money approximately would your changes cost to implement, and how would you find the money? Would you have to make savings elsewhere to get the money?

It will cost nothing because I will use no extra money to do it all but use the existing staff and tell them how to work efficiently.

Do you think your changes would stay in place after you have finished your week in power? Or would they quickly be changed back to how they used to be?

I guess if the Mayor is willing to win the next election he will learn how to get things done and go with my rules and work culture even if he doesn't use all his might to keep them as I sat them.

Who would support your changes, and who would oppose them?

The answer is, no one will oppose openly but all citizens will be benefited and if any things goes wrong, remind the mayor how to work efficiently so everyone will support.

Special Note: I have opted for not to spend any money so no one charges me with corruption after my tenure is finished after 7 days.