Citizen Participation and Good Governance at Ward-Level : Micro-political Study of Two Wards in Bengaluru

Abstract

Urban local governance is the level of government closest to citizens. The quality of governance at this level has a direct bearing on the quality of life of the citizen (Bhide 2018). Citizen participation at this level, when meaningful and engaging can reap wondrous benefits for the community. The neo-liberal paradigm of ‘good governance’ and theoretical engagement with deliberative democracy and participatory governance (Sorenson and Sagaris 2010) has impacted how policymakers think about participatory governance policies.

The 1990s legitimated policy action to facilitate decentralisation and deliberative participatory modes of governance at the local level (Chottray and Stoker 2009). Subsequently, the 74th Constitutional Amendment, of 1992 was legislated and citizen participation in urban governance was formally mandated through Ward Committees (WCs). While the potential of WCs has largely gone unrealised for a variety of reasons, citizen participation has occurred/has been occurring through non-institutionalized networks. The 1990s also witnessed Civil Society Organisations (CSO) steadily gain influence in deciding policy outcomes with respect to local governance. The formal and non-formal mechanisms of participation have thus worked parallely or in tandem with one another. While either mode of participation is not perfect due to concerns ranging from patronage politics, elite dominance, corruption and lack of funds, they hold great promise in engendering an empowered urban citizenry and ensuring quality governance (Sivaramakrishnan 2014).

The scholarly literature on participatory urban local governance at the ward-level is heavily understudied. This study is located in Bengaluru and specifically studies two Wards, Ward 65 and 68. It hopes to bring out the nuances of citizen participation, through the framework of micro-politics, at the lowest operant level of urban governance as well as inform future policy.

Key Words: Urban Governance, Citizen Participation, Ward Committees, Civil Society Organisation, Deliberative Democracy, Good Governance, Facilitator