People’s Participation in Urban Governance

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The 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution provide a comprehensive structure for rural and urban local government institutions. The constitutional status of panchayats and nagarpalikas enable them to function as institutions of self-government. Participation of the people in local governments is an important objective of these amendments. Like gram sabhas in villages, the ward committees in towns and cities ensure proximity between the people and their elected representatives by providing a structured platform for addressing the local problems of citizens. This book critically examines whether wards committees have been a help or a hindrance to peoplesâ€™ participation; the extent of interaction between wards committees and the people on the one hand and elected representatives on the other; and whether wards committees have been able to secure accountability to the people. This book builds on studies conducted by CIVIC (Citizensâ€™ Voluntary Initiative for the City) of Bangalore, Darshan (Development Action through Self Help Network) in Kerala, YUVA (Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action) in Maharashtra, the Eastern Regional Centre of ISS (Institute of Social Science) in Kolkata, and ISS, New Delhi in the respective cities of Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal. The study also critically looks into the innovative Bhagidari system in Delhi.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR K.C. Sivaramakrishnan

After joining the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1958, and holding various assignments in West Bengal, K.C. Sivaramakrishnan moved to Delhi in 1985 where he served as the first Project Director of the Central Canga Authority, Secretary in the Ministry of Urban development, and Secretary (Supply) till his retirement in 1992. He also served in the World Bank as Senior Advisor, Urban Management. Since his return to the country in 1996, Sivaramakrishnan has been with the Centre for policy research as professor. Presently, he is Chairman of the CPR Board. He is also associated with the Institute of Social Sciences, Delhi, as senior fellow. In the academic sphere, Sivaramakrishnan was a Parvin fellow at Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University (1965), Visiting professor and Homi Bhabha Fellow at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (1977), and Senior lecturer at the Economic development Institute of the World bank (1978-1982). Trained in economics, political science and law, he has authored several books and papers on urban management, decentralization, electoral reforms and environment. He is also enrolled as a member of the Supreme Court Bar.