A 15-year Journey of Purpose: Beyond Comfort to Commitment

Manjunatha Hampapura L
Programme Manager | Civic Participation (Karnataka)

Manjana Maathu

Born into a middle-class family with conventional dreams, I was working at an Infosys BPO in my 20s. I had everything a young professional could desire — a respectable job, comfortable salary, and parental pride. Yet, a deeper purpose was taking root, nurtured by R Ravindra, a remarkable social worker who had been my guiding light since childhood.

One transformative Saturday, I discovered my real mission. Walking through urban poor areas, listening to stories of struggle and resilience, I realised that success meant more than personal achievement. Challenged by Ravindra to move beyond passive observation, I committed to being a voice for the voiceless. Every weekend became an opportunity to bridge bureaucratic indifference and community needs, transforming not just infrastructure, but hope itself. Through persistent dedication, I helped convert 30 makeshift houses into sturdy homes.

The real transformation, however, was deeper — and it was accelerated when Ravindra introduced me to Janaagraha’s Community Awareness Programme (CAP). Attending a Janaagraha workshop at the Indian Social Institute, I discovered the intricacies of local governance, city budgeting, and citizen responsibilities.

What began as a single workshop soon became a passionate mission! I started connecting citizens with these educational opportunities, gradually becoming a bridge between community knowledge and civic engagement. A pivotal moment came when Janaagraha directly approached me to facilitate a voter awareness campaign — the popular Jaago Re Campaign — in my ward, leading me to collaborate with Mr Shenoy from Nachiketa Manovikas Kendra. The Jaago Re Campaign was a testament to collective action. Over 60 citizens participated, and I witnessed the power of grassroots engagement first hand. When I learned that the team worked as volunteers, driven purely by their commitment to community empowerment, I was profoundly moved.

This experience crystallised my understanding that true success is not measured by personal comfort, but by the positive change we create in others’ lives. Though I also had a desire to serve in this way, but family responsibilities and commitments prevented me from doing full-time volunteer work.

My journey as a Janaagrahi began with a moment of uncertainty. When Ravindra first mentioned the Community Leadership Programme at Janaagraha, I was hesitant. “I cannot work without a salary,” I told him, reflecting the pragmatic mindset of a middle-class professional. His response was simple yet profound: “The service will be done, the salary will come. Go and try.” On 4 September 2008, my Janaagraha journey began — a testament to the power of faith and commitment.

What followed was a remarkable transformation. As a Field Associate of the Community Leadership Programme, I started small but dreamed big. In the Vannarpete ward of Shanti Nagara, I went door to door, delivering over 3,000 voter ID cards. And this was just the beginning! Through the Open Works team, we filed more than 4,000 Right to Information (RTI) requests, empowering citizens with critical information about basic amenities, tenders, contractors, and budgets. The Civic Participation Programme became our vehicle for change, collecting inputs from every corner of Bengaluru through the Participatory Budgeting (My City My Budget) campaign.

The impact was revolutionary. Our efforts, which began in 2015, culminated in a landmark achievement: by 2017, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) incorporated nearly 12,000 inputs, costing approximately INR 600 crore, in the city budget. By 2021-22, BBMP allocated INR 120 crore and INR 198 crore to ward committees, making Bengaluru the first Indian city to not just promote but institutionalise participatory budgeting. The movement spread — by 2023-24, My City My Budget reached Mangaluru and Kalaburagi, gathering over 1 lakh budget inputs. Today, ward committees and area sabha are being activated in 11 major cities of Karnataka, with bye-laws issued and councillors trained.

From a hesitant professional to a familiar figure working between government and citizens, my journey exemplifies the power of persistent, passionate community engagement. What began as a small step became a movement, proving that one person’s commitment can indeed transform communities.

This is more than a personal story; it is a testament to the idea that true change begins with listening, understanding, and acting together.