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Centre for the Study of Social SystemsWeekly Seminar

Speaker:

Ms Shailaja Chandra (I.A.S, Retd.)

On

Bureaucracy and Society:

Challenges of Participatory Democracy in Delhi

Thursday, 26th August, 2010

Jawaharlal Nehru University


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Participatory Democracy

In Delhi peoplesinvolvementhasbeen managedin 3 ways:-

1) ThroughBhagidari - a CitizenGovernment Interface

to improve qualityof services, provided bythe MunicipalCorporation, Water Services, Police,& Revenue Authorities.

to involve al stakeholders Market Associations, NGOs,Industry, Corporate Sectorandstudents.

2) Throughthe Delhi Right to InformationAct, 2001.

3) Throughthe PublicGrievances Commission.


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Bhagidari : Government-CitizenPartnership

AimsAims

To develop a democratic framework providinginformation to people to engage in collective action

with the government.

To address the cynicism and apathy of citizenstowards civic issues

To enhance public scrutiny of government functioning

To make government responsive and participatory

Part - I


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Bhagidari : Government-Citizen Partnership

Part - I

Government felt the need to involve citizens inthe planningprocess.

This was necessary because with three levels ofpolitical representation public awareness aboutresponsibilityand accountabilitywas poor.

Evolution of Bhagidari


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Evolution of Bhagidari:

Government felt the need to involve citizens in theplanning process.

Consultations were held in January 2000 between theChief Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Department Heads and

Heads of civic agencies - to evolve a mechanism.

In the next phase wide consultations were held with allstakeholders - Resident Welfare Associations, Market andTraders Associations and NGOs.

Consensus built on developing a mechanism to bring the

citizens and Government officials together on a commonplatform.


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Special Challenges to Governancein Delhis Context

Delhi is the Seat of the Central Government andDelhi Government.

Public representatives comprising 70 elected

members of the Assembly in 70 constituencies and272 elected Municipal Corporators in 272 wardsservingthe same publicfor similar functions.

Multiplicity of authorities & agencies charged with

providingservices.

Spiralling demand for services / pressure oninfrastructure due to urban in-migration [500,000personsper annum]


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NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI :NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI :

LEGISLATIVE & ADMINISTRATIVE SET UPLEGISLATIVE & ADMINISTRATIVE SET UP

Part - I

Parl iamentaryRepresentative

s for Delhi

Nat ional CapitalTerritory of Delhi

Mun icipal Corpora tionof Delhi

7 Parl iame ntarySeats

Legislat ive Assem bly70 Elected Mem bers

27 2 Corporators

7 Mem bers of

Parl iament

70 Assembly

Constituencies

272 W ards

Population of New Delhi : 13.85 Million


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Bhagidari : Government-Citizen Partnership

Wide consultations were held with allstakeholders - Resident Welfare Associations,Market and Traders Associations and NGOs whowere taught how government organisations

function and to whom they are accountable.

Representatives of the Resident WelfareAssociations were acquainted with the process for

viewing the status and

measuring physical outcomes of projects and

services.

Evolution of Bhagidari

Part - I


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Bhagidari : Government-Citizen PartnershipPart - I

PROCESS

Each RWA was trained in the dynamics of

governance.

RWAs became a focus for citizens issuesrelating to supply of water, electricity,

sanitation and conservancy services, crime,womens security.

More than 1800 Resident WelfareAssociations were established.


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Bhagidari : Government-Citizen PartnershipPart - I

OUTCOME

The RWAs were shaken out of their

apathy.

They questioned poor provision ofservices and insisted on improvement.

The movement forced service providers to

become responsive.


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Recognition . . .

As a good governance init ia t ive Bhagidari hasa tt ra ct ed t he a tt ent ion of Gover nm e nt of I ndia andinternat ional agencies. The program m e has alsobeen circulate d by Govt . of I ndia for replicat ion byother sta tes.

Bhagidari w a s aw a rde d t he Unit ed N at ions PublicService Aw a rds 2 0 05 in t he cat egory of I m provingTr anspar ency , Accountab ilit y a nd Re sponsiv enessin the Public Service from am ongst 2 1 5 ent r iesw orldw ide. This is the first t im e that an ent ry fromSou th Asia ba gge d t he pr est igiou s a w a rd.

The Aw ard w as given by the Division for PublicAdm inist rat ion and Developm ent Managem ent( DPADM) of the United Nat ions Departm ent ofEconomic and Social Af fa irs ( UNDESA) .


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Delhi Right to Information Act, 2001

Par t- I I

Delhi enacted the Right to InformationDelhi enacted the Right to InformationAct in 2001.Act in 2001.

The Act provides every citizen the right toThe Act provides every citizen the right toobtain information from governmentobtain information from governmentdepartments.departments.


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Illustrative cases coming under the

Delhi Right to Information Act

Par t- I I

1 : I nform at ion about them a in t en an ce o f p ub lic p arks,roads of MCD/ NDMC andencroachm ent on publica rea s or p ub lic p rop er t y.

2 : Deta ils about roadconst ruct ion, quality ofm a te ria l u se d, m e asu rem e ntbook s a nd a w a r d of t en de rs.

3 : W ork orders issued bya ge ncie s lik e M CD a lon gw i th

nam es of cont ractors,am ount paid to them andnam es of supervisoryofficia ls. D at e of com p let ionof t he w ork.

Contd..


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Illustrative cases coming under theDelhi Right to Information Act

Part - I I

4 : Operat ion of fair priceshops, a vailability, qualityof com m odities supplied.Action taken oncom plaints of diver sion ofstocks, non supply togenuine card holders.

5: Criteria follow ed foraccept ance or rej ection ofapplications for admissionto institutions/ schools.

6 : D eploy m en t of sw e e pe rs,gardeners and sanitaryinspectors in a specificare a or colony.


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PUBLIC GRIEVANCES COMMISSION

Grievances can be filed against officials ofGovernment Departments, Local Bodies,Autonomous Organisations andOrganisationsfundedbythe GNCTof Delhi.

Commission makes recommendations tothe government and they are laid on thetable of the Assembly.


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Delhi Right to Information Act

Delhi enacted the Right toDelhi enacted the Right toI nform at ion Act in 2 0 0 1 .I nform at ion Act in 2 0 0 1 .

The Act provides every citizen t heThe Act provides every citizen t he

right to obtain inform ation fromright to obtain inform ation fromgovernm ent departm ents through agovernm ent departm ents through adesignated Compe tent Authority.designated Compe tent Authority.

The Public Grievances Com m ission isThe Public Grievances Com m ission isthe Appellate Authority under t hethe Appellate Authority under t he

Delhi Right to I nform ation Act.Delhi Right to I nform ation Act.


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Illustrat ive cases coming under theDelhi Right to Information Act

1 : I nform a tion about t hem aintenance of publicpark s, roads ofMCD/ NDMC andencroachment on publicare as or public propert y.

2 : D et ails a bou t r oa dconstruction, qua lity ofm ater ial used,measurement books andaw ard of tenders.

3 : Unaut horize d

constr uction in colonies -action tak en oncomplaints.

Contd..


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Illustrat ive cases coming under theDelhi Right to Information Act 4 : W ork orders issued by agencies

like MCD alongw ith nam es ofcontractors, amount paid t othem and nam es of supervisoryofficials. Date of com pletion ofthe work.

5 : Processes follow ed forregistra tion of docum ents &issue of certificates by Sub-Registrars.

6 : Opera tion of fair price shops,availabil ity, quality of

com m odities supplied. Actiontak en on complaints ofdiversion of stocks, non supplyto genuine card holders.

Contd..


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Illustrative cases coming under theDelhi Right to Information Act

7: Complaints about themanagement ofCoopera tive Societies andaction taken by t heRegistrar of CooperativeSociet ies on suchcomplaints.

9: Criteria follow ed foraccept ance or reje ction ofapplications for adm issionto institutions/ schools.

10 : Deployment of sw eepers,sanita ry inspectors in aspecific area or colony,

names of the em ployeesand those engaged onm uster roll.


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Outcomes ofRight to Information Act

The Act has becom e a usefultool for conducting social audit.

I t is possible to give legit imat einform at ion to the public in at ime bound m anner.

Has im proved accountability

and responsiveness.


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PUBLIC GRIEVANCES COMMISSION anotherADDITIONAL FORUM FOR PUBLIC INTERFACE

The Pub lic Grievances Com m ission w asestablished in 1 9 97 .

The Public Grievan ces Com m ission is anindependent forum .

The Com m ission is headed by Cha irm anand three Mem bers.


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PROCESS FOLLOWED BY THEPUBLIC GRIEVANCES COMMISSION

The Com m ission hea rsthe case in the presenceof the com plainant andthe departm entsrepresentatives.

Speak ing Orders arepassed on the m erit ofeach case.

The Com m ission laysspecial em phasis on th espeedy redre ssal of

public complaints.


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Types of cases entertainedby the Commission

W herever t he Comm ission issatisfied that t he grievance hasnot been attended to by theconcerned depart m ent ororganization in a fair, j ust andobjective m anner or a corrupt

practice appea rs to be involved,it t ak es up such cases fordetailed scrutiny.

The Com m ission also ta kes suom oto cognizance of mat terscoming t o its notice t hrough

newspapers/ magaz ines/ o therm edia channels or ver balcomplaints.


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Generic Issues also addressed

The hea ring facil ita tes theexa m ination of generic issues w hichcom e to the Com m issions notice,w hich call for system ic chan ges to be

made.

The Com m ission advises governm ent

on reform s w hich need to beundertaken by t he departm ents to

im prove responsiveness, efficiencyand t he quality of public ser vice.


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Participatory Democracy in DelhiConclusions

Democracy needs peoplesparticipation.

Peoples participation requires theirbeing empowered .

Knowledge about accountability isessential to enable public to raise

issues.


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Participatory DemocracyConclusions ( contd)

Public must understand the role of

the Political Executive and

the Bureaucracy to raise issueseffectively.

Public need independentinstitutions like InformationCommission and Public Grievances

Commission to gain knowledge andarbitrate


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Participatory Democracy(Conclusion.)

Public needs the support of civil

society,NGOs and the media to betaken seriously

Given the tools and the institutionalsupport, public can exercise their

rights successfully.

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