[Urbanstudy] Fwd: CIVIC-CFAR-MKSS - Invitation to consultation on "People's participation for good governance"-2.9.13

Sat Aug 24 12:53:33 CDT 2013

*                                        CIVIC Bangalore, *
 *                    Centre for Advocacy & Research (C-FAR) & *
*                     Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS)*

 *invite you to a State-level consultation on *
*
*
*"People's Participation for Good Governance"*
*
*
*Mr. Nikhil Dey*
*Prominent social activist of MKSS, Rajasthan*

will be delivering the key-note address

*Date: Monday, 2nd September 2013*
*Time:** 9.00 AM to 5.30 PM*
*Venue: **Senate Hall*
Central College Campus
(behind Jnanajyothi Auditorium)
Entrance from Palace Road near Mysore Bank
Bangalore 560001

Ministers, secretaries to government, NGOs, elected representatives from
Bengaluru and several districts in the state, cities and towns, RWAs,
political parties, academia, civil society, officials and the media will be
participating. Final invitation will be circulated shortly.
* *

The concept note and the draft programme schedule are attached for your
kind information.  We look forward to your early confirmation of your
participation.

For CIVIC, C-FAR & MKSS

Kathyayini  Chamaraj
 Executive Trustee
CIVIC Bangalore
97318 17177
*CIVIC Bangalore*
 #6, Kasturi Apts, 35/23 Langford Rd. Cross
Shanthinagar, Bangalore 560025, Telphone:080-41144126 info at civicspace.in
RSVP:   080-41144126; (M) 98809 63996, 97318 17177

*Draft Programme Schedule*
  *Time*
 *Programme*
  9.00 AM
 Registration
  9.30 AM
 *INAUGURAL SESSION*
Welcome & Objectives:
Keynote address:  Mr. Nikhil Dey, MKSS
Chief Guests’ Remarks:
Chairperson’s remarks:
  10.45 AM
 *Tea break*
  11.00 AM
 *SESSION I*
*People’s Participation in Governance & Social Audit*
Presentation
Responses
Open discussion
  12.15 PM
 *SESSION II*
*Public Grievances Act and Right to Hearing Act  *
Presentation
Responses
Open Discussion
  1.30PM
 *Lunch break*

2.00 PM

 *SESSION III*
*Need for Universal Social Security*
Presentation
Responses
Open Discussion
  3.15 PM
 *SESSION IV *
*Need for a Single-Window System for service delivery*
Presentation
Responses
Open discussion
  4.15 PM
 *Tea Break*
  4.30 PM
 *Summation of proceedings*
Response
  5.30 PM
 Vote of Thanks
  * *
*Concept Note *
*State-level Consultation on “People’s Participation for Good Governance”*
*Monday, 2nd September 2013*

Though it is 20 years since the passage of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional
Amendments, more popularly known as the Panchayat Raj and Nagarapalika
Acts, with the goal of giving “Power to the People” and bringing in
transparency, accountability, people’s participation in governance and
better service delivery, these have remained largely unfulfilled in
Karnataka.

The proposed state-level consultation is meant to take stock of these two
Acts and their success at ensuring that “Power to the People” becomes a
reality.  While the Community Participation Law is yet to become a reality
in the cities of Karnataka, existing provisions in the Panchayat Raj Act
for ensuring people’s participation through effective Grama Sabhas have
been poorly implemented, necessitating amendments to make Grama Sabhas
mandatory.  The power to conduct social audits is one of the important
functions that need to be given to Area Sabhas and Grama Sabhas to bring
about accountability.  The MGNREGA has given this power to Grama Sabhas
which experience needs to be up-scaled to all other sectors in both rural
and urban areas.

The need to supplement these Acts with other laws to foster effective
service delivery to citizens has become imperative.  Thus Karnataka has
brought in the Sakala Act which promises a slew of services within
time-frames failing which officials have to pay a penalty and compensate
the aggrieved citizen.  An effective grievance redressal system is
imperative to improve governance.  A  Public Grievances Bill is pending
before parliament in this regard.  A glaring lacuna experienced by citizens
who attempt to avail themselves of any government service is the system’s
failure to give them a hearing before deciding on their applications.  The
state of Rajasthan has passed an Act affirming the Right to Hearing of a
citizen before disposing of his/her claims which example needs to be
emulated by other States.

A pressing concern is the absence of universal social security, especially
for the unorganized workers of the country who, despite contributing 65% of
the GDP of the country, receive so little in return.  In the absence of
social security, the especially vulnerable, such as the disabled and
single, widowed or deserted women are rendered destitute, and the many
elderly are forced to work in their twilight years.  Even those eligible
for the tokenistic pension benefits are made to run around in circles to
obtain them.

A desirable mechanism to improve service delivery to citizens and put an
end to especially the unorganized poor being pushed from pillar to post is
to establish a single-widow system at the GP/ward level to meet the need
for awareness creation on schemes of various departments, a common
receiving centre for applications, a feedback and grievance redressal
system, and delivery of service.

The consultation hopes to discuss all the above issues relevant for good
governance and come up with suitable recommendations for their proper
implementation."

****
 Kathyayini Chamaraj
Executive Trustee
97318 17177

CIVIC Bangalore
#6 Kasturi Apts.
35/23 Langford Road Cross
Shanthinagar
Bangalore 560025
Tel:  080-22110584
Telefax: 080-41144126
info at civicspace.in
www.civicspace.in

-- 
Kathyayini Chamaraj
Executive Trustee
97318 17177

CIVIC Bangalore
#6 Kasturi Apts.
35/23 Langford Road Cross
Shanthinagar
Bangalore 560025
Tel:  080-22110584
Telefax: 080-41144126
info at civicspace.in
www.civicspace.in

-- 
Kathyayini Chamaraj
Executive Trustee
97318 17177

CIVIC Bangalore
#6 Kasturi Apts.
35/23 Langford Road Cross
Shanthinagar
Bangalore 560025
Tel:  080-22110584
Telefax: 080-41144126
info at civicspace.in
www.civicspace.in

-- 
Kathyayini Chamaraj
Executive Trustee
97318 17177

CIVIC Bangalore
#6 Kasturi Apts.
35/23 Langford Road Cross
Shanthinagar
Bangalore 560025
Tel:  080-22110584
Telefax: 080-41144126
info at civicspace.in
www.civicspace.in
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