On Bangalore’s priorities this year

‘Bangalore has the ingredients to be one of the best cities’
The Times of India

What should Bangalore’s priorities be this year?
The government of India introduced the National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM) in December 2005, with financial incentives to the states and municipalities. Sixty-three cities have been chosen. Bangalore is one of them. We should make maximum use of this.

Should we try a new approach to citizens’ participation in governance this year?
Yes, absolutely! We believe that unless citizens are given a formal role, participation can only be sporadic and through patronage. For the first time a formal role is suggested for the urban citizen through NURM, with a law for citizens’ participation in urban India.

How is citizens’ participation different under the scheme?
The dilemma in engaging the urban citizen thus far has been the large numbers. The size of the ward constituency in a metropolitan city is anywhere between 20,000 to 50,000. NURM proposes a simple solution — the area sabha. Every resident within each area will have an opportunity to participate. Citizens need to be proactive and ensure that the government delivers this law.

Is there a silver lining?
Bangalore has all the ingredients to be one of the best cities in the world. We were pioneers in Panchayati Raj reforms and have an engaged citizenry and a plethora of NGOs. The BDA has one of the best digitised data information systems and the BMP one of the best financial management systems. With this kind of good quality information must follow good quality decision making.

SWATI RAMANATHAN
Town Planning expert
On Bangalore’s priorities this year