Campaign for local government empowerment in AP
National Campaign for Electoral and Governance Reforms
Dear friends,
Usually, I do not burden all of you with the details of campaigns in any particular state. But I have decided to make an exception in the case of the massive campaign being launched by LOK SATTA movement for local government empowerment.
Starting from 9th August (Quit India day) and ending with 2nd October
(Gandhiji's birthday), LOK SATTA is reaching out to practically every village
in Andhra Pradesh to mobilize people for local government
empowerment in the form of signatures / written support. The goal is
to obtain the support of 10 million (1 crore) citizens. We hope to accomplish
at least 70 - 80% of the target. This will be the largest ever
non-partisan mass mobilization in any state on an issue which is not
emotive, and does not have
1. To genuinely transfer real powers of
decision making to local governments in respect of subjects
listed in 11th and
12th Schedules.
2. To transfer 50% of the state's tax
revenues as untied funds to local governments.
3. To create instruments of accountability
in local governments- like effective right to information;
Citizen's Charters
for various services with compensation to citizens for delays; and independent
ombudsmen to act against
erring local governments and functionaries.
Why this campaign:
· A district
in India is often larger than 80 nations of the world. There cannot be
effective delivery of services, or accountability, or citizen-centered
governance without effective and empowered local
governments.
· In most states, and definitely in AP, the governance is too centralized, and the spirit of the Constitution, and often the letter are violated with impunity.
· Only
when the citizen can see the clear link between her vote and public good
can
elections be meaningful. In the absense of such a link in centralized
governance, most people are increasingly tempted to maximize their short
term gains by selling the vote for a price. This is perpetuating a vicious
cycle of corruption and misgovernance.
· Spectacular results have been accomplished in India only when local initiative and leadership were given an opportunity.
· For the first time, a substantial majority of elected representatives in local governments is from the traditionally oppressed sections of dalits, tribals, backward classes and women. Though Constitution has been amended over ten years ago (April 1993), local governments continue to be overstructured and underpowered. As a result, the disadvantaged sections have only titular representation without real power.
· There are powerful interests ranged against local governments - the state legislators and powerful bureaucracy in particular. Any government / legislature can act decisively to empower local governments only when massive public support is mobilized, and the issue becomes electorally significant.
Strategy:
· As part
of the campaign, massive public education has been undertaken over the
past five years.
· Thousands of volunteers have been trained.
· The elected women representatives have been specially mobilized through formal interactions.
· In February 2003, all elected leaders of local governments and distinguished public persons have been brought together, cutting across rural-urban divide, party differences, and the three tiers of panchayats. The Federation for Empowerment of Local Governments has thus been created after a state-wide campaign. This is a registered society.
· As part of this Federation, district level bodies have been formed involving all local government leaders.
· Now every village is being reached as part of this campaign.
The goals:
Ø to educate the general public
Ø to mobilize demonstrable public
support
Ø to weld local government leaders
into a cohesive, constructive force above party differences.
Ø to make political parties respond
positively and achieve the objectives
How will local governments be different?
· Corruption
and misgovernance will not cease immediately. But local governments will
be more amenable to citizen-control and collective, informed assertion.
Therefore a local government is always better than a distant, centralized
government, however well-intentioned.
· Instruments of accountability are integral to our objectives.
Already a citizen's charter is in place in municipalities in AP providing
for compensation of Rs. 50 per day's delay in respect of specific public
services. This charter was a result of informed advocacy and public
pressure, and has significantly improved these limited services.
· It will take time for local governments to mature and be effective. But the process must begin immediately.
· Local
government
empowerment is a necessary, but not sufficient condition for good
governance. Centralized culture, high election expenditure, electoral
malpractices and corruption have vitiated local governments also.
Therefore comprehensive electoral reforms, effective justice system
and
measures for enforcing accountability are critical. Local government
empowerment in itself will bring about significant improvements; but
it
needs to be supported by the other reforms.
Clearly, a large, non-partisan campaign on an issue which does not arouse
strong emotions is an extremely complicated and ambitious exercise. Thousands
of volunteers, activists, local government leaders and media persons are
giving their time, energy, talents and space liberally for
this vast undertaking. In a state in which functional literacy is no
more than 30% or so, and 45% of the people are below 18 years of age, mobilizing
10 million people's written support is an excruciatingly
difficult venture. H LOK SATTA movement needs your goodwill and support
in this campaign.
With warm regards,
Jayaprakash Narayan
National Coordinator
I would appreciate if you could send back a line acknowledging this note - just to make sure you received it.
LOK SATTA
401 Nirmal Towers, Dwarakapuri Colony
Punjagutta, Hyderabad - 500 082
Tel: 91 40 23350778 / 23350790
Fax: 91 40 23350783
Email: loksatta@satyam.net.in
url: www.loksatta.org