Advocacy

Creating the momentum for Governance Reforms

Janaagraha’s ideas, experiences, approach and work have evolved considerably from December 2001. Along with it, the understanding of the complexities of government structures in democracies around the world, has increased. The solutions we advocate reflect our understanding.

Our advocacy efforts are focused on urban reforms for public governance and include:

1. Institutionalising citizen participation through the concept of local "Area Sabhas". This gives every registered voter in urban India a legitimate political space and role for participation.
2. Including a Law for Public Disclosure where local governments present quarterly financial performance statements.
3. Coordination between government agencies providing services to the municipalities. Additionally, aligning the current multiple jurisdictional boundaries (administrative) in many cities, with the political boundaries. This creates accountability for all public governance at the local level.
4. Establishing regional structures for coordinated planning, within and across local governments. Making planning and budgeting concurrent and participatory. This is at both the micro level of the "areas" in each ward and the macro level of the metropolitan region.

Based on the above, Janaagraha is proposing a framework for urban interventions to governments with specific action points in addressing the issues plaguing our cities and towns. We believe this framework provides sustainable reforms for how our public institutions practice governance. They go beyond the temporary band-aid solutions that many state and local governments are applying, and address the deeper malaise of poor governance.