“Power to the People : Indicators for Accountability”

Presentation by

Shailaja ChandraExecutive Director

National Population Stabilisation FundGovernment of India

 Istanbul, Turkey27-30 June 2007

“Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies” 

Second OECD World Forum on “Statistics, Knowledge and Policy”

Presentation HighlightsPower to the People :

Indicators for Accountability

The presentation is in 3 parts :-

I. The Government-Citizen partnership Bhagidari which empowered the public to hold Policy Makers Accountable.

II. How Right to Information improved Governance.

III. Measuring Inequity through GIS mapping and Census data.

Bhagidari : Government-Citizen Partnership

Aims

To develop a democratic framework providing information to people to engage in collective action with the government.

To address the cynicism and apathy of citizens towards civic issues.

To enhance public scrutiny of government functioning

To make government responsive and participatory

Part-I

Evolution of Bhagidari

Government felt the need to involve citizens in the planning process.

This was necessary because with three levels of political representation public awareness about responsibility and accountability was poor.

Bhagidari : Government-Citizen PartnershipPart-I

NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI :NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI :

LEGISLATIVE & ADMINISTRATIVE SET UPLEGISLATIVE & ADMINISTRATIVE SET UP

Parliamentary Representatives

for Delhi

National Capital Territory of Delhi

Municipal Corporation of Delhi

7 Parliamentary Seats

Legislative Assembly70 Elected Members

272 Corporators

7 Members of Parliament

70 Assembly Constituencies

272 Wards

Population of New Delhi : 13.85 Million

Part-I

Evolution of Bhagidari

Wide consultations were held with all stakeholders - Resident Welfare Associations, Market and Traders Associations and NGOs who were taught how government organisations function and to whom they are accountable.

Representatives of the Resident Welfare Associations were acquainted with the process for viewing the status and measuring physical outcomes of

projects and services.

Bhagidari : Government-Citizen PartnershipPart-I

Information provided at Sensitization Workshops

Organisational set up of each provider agency.

Departmental hierarchy. Systems prescribed for grant of

services. Average time taken to provide

service. System for redressal of grievances.

Bhagidari : Government-Citizen partnershipPart-I

Each RWA was trained in the dynamics of governance.

RWAs became a focus for citizens issues relating to supply of water, electricity, sanitation and conservancy services, crime, women’s security.

More than 1800 Resident Welfare Associations were established.

Bhagidari : Government-Citizen partnership

PROCESS

Part-I

The RWAs were shaken out of their apathy.

They questioned poor provision of services and insisted on improvement.

The movement forced service providers to become responsive.

Bhagidari : Government-Citizen partnership

OUTCOME

Part-I

Recognition . . .

Bhagidari was awarded the United Nations Public Service Awards 2005 in the category of “Improving Transparency, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Public Service” from amongst 215 entries worldwide.

Bhagidari : Government-Citizen partnershipPart-I

Delhi Right to Information Act, 2001

Delhi enacted the Right to Delhi enacted the Right to Information Act in 2001.Information Act in 2001.

The Act provides every citizen The Act provides every citizen the right to obtain information the right to obtain information from government from government departments.departments.

Part-II

Illustrative cases coming under the Delhi Right to Information Act

1: Information about the maintenance of public parks, roads of MCD/NDMC and encroachment on public areas or public property.

2: Details about road construction, quality of material used, measurement books and award of tenders.

3: Work orders issued by agencies like MCD alongwith names of contractors, amount paid to them and names of supervisory officials. Date of completion of the work.

Contd..

Part-II

Illustrative cases coming under the Delhi Right to Information Act

4: Operation of fair price shops, availability, quality of commodities supplied. Action taken on complaints of diversion of stocks, non supply to genuine card holders.

5: Criteria followed for acceptance or rejection of applications for admission to institutions/ schools.

6: Deployment of sweepers,

gardeners and sanitary inspectors in a specific area or colony.

Part-II

Status of Delhi Right to Information Act, 2001 Application Received and Disposed off

(Upto March, 2007)

 Number of Applications Information

  Received Disposed Off Given Not Given

Total 10921 10446 9477 969

Source : Department of Administrative Reforms, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi .

Part-II

Bhagidari & Right to Information

Summary of Outcomes

The combination of the Bhagidari movement and the Right to Information Act has helped the public to :

To speak out and bring up public issues in a united manner.

To insist on being heard.

To made participatory democracy the bulwark of urban governance.

Part-II

India's Population

Population growth is one of India's biggest challenges. Since 1951 the population of the country has increased from 361 million to 1 billion.

Measuring Inequity through

GIS Maps and Census Data

Part-III

Part-III

Part-III

India has a federal structure with 28 states and 7 Union Territories.

MAP OF INDIA Population of India is 1.03 billion.Part-III

Map of Madhya Pradesh state in India(One out of 28 states in India)

Population of Madhya Pradesh is 60.35 million

Part-III

Map of Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh State(Out of 45 districts in the state)

Population of Jhabua district is 1.4 million

Part-III

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Example - 1

Contd..

Part-III

Nathpada 267

Makodiya 1680

Narela 2050

Dhumadiya 1037

Dhamni Chhoti 2436

Narsigh Pada 508

Rupgarh 1236

Dhamni Badi 1097

Bhim Kund 1279

Kasadiya 169

Kheriya Pada 374

Rundipada 507

Bhamal 2352

Khajuri 782

Machhlai Mata 709

Tejpura 385

Chainpuri 515

Mahudifaliya 303

Sutareti 985

Beed Mahudipada 766

Naharpura Khejada 697

Pada Dhamanjhar 655

Naw a Pada Kasba 818

Junw aniya Chhota 1062

Semaliya Khaw asa 3055

Naw a Pada Khaw asa 385

Parw aliya 3215

Ratanpada 330

Bhurighati 451

Bherugarh Alias Ramgarh 1246

Junw aniya Badda 735

Battha 1926

Chhayan 547

Sujapura 1716

Allipura 621

Jhariya Pada 319

Devgarh 799

Balakhori 517

Borw a 430

Gularipada 770

Sagw a 893

Ranni 3185

Naharpura Khaw asa 810

Kundiyapada 347

Bordi 1123

Semalpada 1597

Naw apada Kalirundi 335

Semaliya(Thandla) 1157

Khokhar Khandan 640

MADHYA PRADESH Jhabua Thandla

Within 0-5 Kms 5-10 Kms>10Kms

Village Name Total Population

Village Name Total Population

Kushalpura 784

Parw ada 3131

Panch Kheriya 1803

Harinagar 656

Marjhari 4039

Bahadarpada 671

Udepuriya 1631

Sagw ani 439

Bhimpuri 1266

Daulatpura 2194

Deoka 892

Khandan 1356

Khataw ala 246

Dungari Pada 1322

Annupura 817

Goriya Khandan 1786

Kotda 1038

Roziya 1017

Hedaw a 1354

Chikaliya 1084

Timarw ani 1221

Bedaw a 2714

Amli 874

Kaldela 2010

Thetham 1240

Nogaw a Kaliya 282

Nogaw a Semla 462

Nogaw a Nagla 370

Ratnali 1180

Madalda 3513

Manpur 1028

Talaw ada 2214

Juna Khaw asa 250

Kesharpura 477

Chapaner 1479

Chaw ariya 291

Patdi 570

Agnaliyapada 745

Munjal 1127

Guw alrundi 650

Jharni 1822

Ruparel 339

Bihar 863

Udeganj 477

Balw asa 4098

Gopalpura 395

Bhimpura 278

Hamirphalya 455

Dhamanjhar 795

Miyati 1774

Sadeda 404

Ramnagar 216

Chhapri 1150

Palasdor 3168

Ganeshpura 620

Naw apada (Kakanw ani) 778

Kukadipada 1787

Rukmanipada 204

Charpotipada 341

Thandagoli 77

Jhosali 794

Village Name Total Population

Village Name

Total Population

USING CENSUS DATAExample – 1

Contd..

Contd..

Part-III

State – Madhya PradeshDistrict - Jhabua

Example – 1

Contd..

Part-III

Map of Bihar state in India(Out of 28 states in India)

Example - 2

Contd..

Population of Bihar is 83 million

Part-III

Map of Araria district of Bihar State(One district out of 37 districts in the state)

Example – 2

Contd..

Contd..Population of Araria district is 2.1 million

Part-III

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Example – 2

Contd..

Part-III

USING CENSUS DATA

Contd..

Example – 2

Contd..

Part-III

State – BiharDistrict - Araria

Example – 2

Contd..

Part-III

What has been achieved

The amalgamation of GIS Mapping and Census The amalgamation of GIS Mapping and Census Data has given district and sub-district level Data has given district and sub-district level information in visual form.information in visual form.

The distances of villages from primary health The distances of villages from primary health facilities have depicted underserved areas with facilities have depicted underserved areas with a high degree of specificity.a high degree of specificity.

The bar charts representing key health and The bar charts representing key health and social indices have brought out inter district social indices have brought out inter district disparity.disparity.

CONCLUSION

It is vitally important to assemble and project indicators and information for public consumption.

It is important to orient people to view information in a way that affects them.

This can urge people including media and NGOs to raise questions about accountability.

The power of information can become a turning point for the electorate to demand change and insist on accountability.