Citizens' groups urged to improve quality of civic life

Citizens' groups urged to improve quality of civic life
The Hindu

Ask questions, demand accountability, says Union Minister M.V. Rajasekharan

# Workshop discusses role of residents welfare associations
# They are seen as a fundamental tool in democracy
# Associations told to strengthen neighbourhood civic action

Bangalore: The concept of residents welfare associations has become a fundamental participatory tool in democracy, according to M.V. Rajasekharan, Union Minister of State for Planning.

He was speaking at a one-day workshop on "Strengthening the role of residents welfare associations in the governance of Bangalore" here on Saturday. The workshop was organised by the Public Affairs Centre (PAC) and Swabhimana.

`Room for improvement'

Mr. Rajasekharan urged members of such associations to strengthen neighbourhood civic action and improve the quality of life. "Leaders have striven to involve people in governance. However, there is room for improvement in the State. There is no dearth of funds or policies to help the common man. However, the delivery system needs to be sharpened," he said. He stressed the importance of the role that citizens had to play in this regard. He said it was time citizens started asking questions and demanded accountability.

"Participation and disclosure laws are the basis of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission project. People have to learn to use this to their benefit," he said. The authorities concerned had to involve the associations in the process, he said.

The workshop was organised to provide inputs and strategies for broadening the membership base of the association by showcasing good practices.

Manjunath Sadashiva of Swabhimana presented the findings from a snap survey regarding the trend in membership patterns of the associations.

P.K. Venkataramanan of Residents Initiative for Safe Environment of HAL II Stage shared experiences from their successful model on membership mobilisation, fund raising and community service.

The workshop also dealt with the relevance of the Right To Information Act, 2005 to the associations. Vikram Simha, convener of KRIA KATTE, a Statewide forum that advocates and monitors the implementation of the Act, spoke about the provisions under the Act and shared success stories of how local organisations had used it effectively to strengthen their advocacy and demand accountability of local government officials at the neighbourhood level.

Plans unveiled

In the second session, D.G. Poornima of the PAC unveiled PAC-Swabhimana's combined plans aimed at strengthening civil society participation in the forthcoming elections to the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Council. She urged the associations to participate in the campaigns to enhance citizen awareness and involvement in voter registration, demand candidates who had demonstrated integrity and press for an exclusive manifesto from all major political parties on their vision and plans for development of Bangalore.

Representatives of over 30 residents welfare associations from all the three zones coming under the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike participated.

Samuel Paul, chairman of the PAC; A. Ravindra, trustee of Swabhimana; and K.R.S. Murthy, director of the PAC, spoke. G. Govardhan, chairman of Swabhimana, was present.