Urban Governance
A Critical Review of Decentralised Participatory Governance in Cities of Karnataka
2024

A comprehensive report on the state of participatory governance in Karnataka, this study reveals significant gaps in the implementation of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, which mandates local self-governance in towns and cities.

Effective decentralisation of power and citizen participation are crucial for creating responsive local governments and enabling effective action on issues like equity, public health, and environmental sustainability. However, the study shows that these foundational elements are severely lacking in the state. City governments do not have a role or control over 15 of the 18 functions of local governance mandated by the Constitution. Further, 10 out of 11 city corporations do not have operational ward committees.

In addition to these findings, the report makes several important recommendations to strengthen decentralised  urban governance and citizen engagement in Karnataka’s cities for the 21st century.