[Music] how we can transform the way our cities
how we can transform the way our cities
how we can transform the way our cities are governed
are governed
are governed let me begin with the story of Manoj
Manoj is a young professional who lives
Manoj is a young professional who lives in cool down with his family
in cool down with his family
in cool down with his family slog student weekdays loves to relax on
slog student weekdays loves to relax on
slog student weekdays loves to relax on weekends typical life of a city slicker
weekends typical life of a city slicker
weekends typical life of a city slicker however that is not the reason why the
however that is not the reason why the
however that is not the reason why the road is part of my talks to me my note
road is part of my talks to me my note
road is part of my talks to me my note has shown extraordinary perseverance in
has shown extraordinary perseverance in
has shown extraordinary perseverance in resolving a silicate conversation he
resolving a silicate conversation he
resolving a silicate conversation he successfully got no further score at
successfully got no further score at
successfully got no further score at least it’s not streetlights on the board
least it’s not streetlights on the board
least it’s not streetlights on the board leading to his house they can almost 5
leading to his house they can almost 5
leading to his house they can almost 5 years apart in these five years managed
years apart in these five years managed
years apart in these five years managed reached out to me his area councilor
reached out to me his area councilor
reached out to me his area councilor he wrote empty letters to Hooda and
he wrote empty letters to Hooda and
he wrote empty letters to Hooda and Municipal Corporation did multiple
Municipal Corporation did multiple
Municipal Corporation did multiple rounds of office offices and officials
rounds of office offices and officials
rounds of office offices and officials when nothing worked he filed an RTI when
when nothing worked he filed an RTI when
when nothing worked he filed an RTI when even that did not get anything moving he
even that did not get anything moving he
even that did not get anything moving he raised a petition on change.org to raise
raised a petition on change.org to raise
raised a petition on change.org to raise more awareness and build support for his
more awareness and build support for his
more awareness and build support for his issue luckily dad got picked up by a
issue luckily dad got picked up by a
issue luckily dad got picked up by a local newspaper the story was published
local newspaper the story was published
local newspaper the story was published it got more his issue got highlighted
it got more his issue got highlighted
it got more his issue got highlighted even more however even that was not
even more however even that was not
even more however even that was not enough to wake up the authorities and
enough to wake up the authorities and
enough to wake up the authorities and take action Manoj did not give up he
take action Manoj did not give up he
take action Manoj did not give up he decided to tie another route so he
decided to tie another route so he
decided to tie another route so he lodged a complaint in the grievance
lodged a complaint in the grievance
lodged a complaint in the grievance mechanism of the Chief Minister called
mechanism of the Chief Minister called
mechanism of the Chief Minister called the CM window the CM office took
the CM window the CM office took
the CM window the CM office took cognizance and they asked for response
cognizance and they asked for response
cognizance and they asked for response from the officials in Gurgaon who in the
from the officials in Gurgaon who in the
from the officials in Gurgaon who in the first instance replied that the
first instance replied that the
first instance replied that the streetlights already existed and closed
streetlights already existed and closed
streetlights already existed and closed the complaint a shell-shocked manoj
the complaint a shell-shocked manoj
the complaint a shell-shocked manoj still persisted and got his grievance
still persisted and got his grievance
still persisted and got his grievance reopened finally after five years street
reopened finally after five years street
reopened finally after five years street lights were installed on a street
have you had an experience like this or
have you had an experience like this or a similar experience anybody here have
a similar experience anybody here have
a similar experience anybody here have you felt that there are multiple
you felt that there are multiple
you felt that there are multiple agencies in our cities but none that
agencies in our cities but none that
agencies in our cities but none that seems to respond or listen have you felt
seems to respond or listen have you felt
seems to respond or listen have you felt that you don’t know who runs our cities
that you don’t know who runs our cities
that you don’t know who runs our cities that that you don’t know who’s
that that you don’t know who’s
that that you don’t know who’s accountable well that’s fine because no
accountable well that’s fine because no
accountable well that’s fine because no one runs our cities or no one person
one runs our cities or no one person
one runs our cities or no one person runs our cities and we have this
runs our cities and we have this
runs our cities and we have this extremely detrimental situation where
extremely detrimental situation where
extremely detrimental situation where citizens don’t know how to raise their
citizens don’t know how to raise their
citizens don’t know how to raise their issues and seek solutions like we saw on
issues and seek solutions like we saw on
issues and seek solutions like we saw on religious example they don’t know whom
religious example they don’t know whom
religious example they don’t know whom to approach and what to expect and our
to approach and what to expect and our
to approach and what to expect and our issues of bad roads pollution congestion
issues of bad roads pollution congestion
issues of bad roads pollution congestion water logging just keep rising all
water logging just keep rising all
water logging just keep rising all because there’s no one at the top where
because there’s no one at the top where
because there’s no one at the top where the buck can stop so what is the real
the buck can stop so what is the real
the buck can stop so what is the real problem
problem
problem the real problem is that in our cities
the real problem is that in our cities
the real problem is that in our cities those who are accountable the elected
those who are accountable the elected
those who are accountable the elected representatives of the city the
representatives of the city the
representatives of the city the councillor and mayor our ceremonial
councillor and mayor our ceremonial
councillor and mayor our ceremonial figures they are not empowered to lead
figures they are not empowered to lead
figures they are not empowered to lead the city and take decisions on the other
the city and take decisions on the other
the city and take decisions on the other hand it’s the unaccountable bureaucracy
hand it’s the unaccountable bureaucracy
hand it’s the unaccountable bureaucracy which has decision-making and executive
which has decision-making and executive
which has decision-making and executive powers now that’s a huge anomaly in the
powers now that’s a huge anomaly in the
powers now that’s a huge anomaly in the in democracy whose basic tenant is that
in democracy whose basic tenant is that
in democracy whose basic tenant is that executive power must rest with an
executive power must rest with an
executive power must rest with an elected body or person let me share my
elected body or person let me share my
elected body or person let me share my experience with you as a councillor soon
experience with you as a councillor soon
experience with you as a councillor soon after I was elected some residents
after I was elected some residents
after I was elected some residents offered to set up
offered to set up
offered to set up portal for me which would be a
portal for me which would be a
portal for me which would be a communication channel between me and the
communication channel between me and the
communication channel between me and the residents the residents could inform
residents the residents could inform
residents the residents could inform about the issues that they were facing
about the issues that they were facing
about the issues that they were facing and I could access this information
and I could access this information
and I could access this information centrally in an organized manner and
centrally in an organized manner and
centrally in an organized manner and work on my to do list
work on my to do list
work on my to do list seemed like a perfect solution however
seemed like a perfect solution however
seemed like a perfect solution however only in theory I soon realized that this
only in theory I soon realized that this
only in theory I soon realized that this communication channel that had opened up
communication channel that had opened up
communication channel that had opened up abruptly ended with me when I took these
abruptly ended with me when I took these
abruptly ended with me when I took these issues up with the Municipal Corporation
issues up with the Municipal Corporation
issues up with the Municipal Corporation officials they were under no obligation
officials they were under no obligation
officials they were under no obligation to take action because according to the
to take action because according to the
to take action because according to the Municipal Corporation Act councilors
Municipal Corporation Act councilors
Municipal Corporation Act councilors could only recommend so for most part of
could only recommend so for most part of
could only recommend so for most part of my five-year term I spent as a post
my five-year term I spent as a post
my five-year term I spent as a post woman receiving issues and taking them
woman receiving issues and taking them
woman receiving issues and taking them up with the authorities I had a piling
up with the authorities I had a piling
up with the authorities I had a piling list on one end and a choked pipeline on
list on one end and a choked pipeline on
list on one end and a choked pipeline on the other yes some issues got resolved
the other yes some issues got resolved
the other yes some issues got resolved some matters sometimes but it was ad hoc
some matters sometimes but it was ad hoc
some matters sometimes but it was ad hoc and it was more driven by my personal
and it was more driven by my personal
and it was more driven by my personal rapport with the official concerned it
rapport with the official concerned it
rapport with the official concerned it used to shock me that files related to
used to shock me that files related to
used to shock me that files related to small works in my area needed approvals
small works in my area needed approvals
small works in my area needed approvals from officials sitting in chandigarh and
from officials sitting in chandigarh and
from officials sitting in chandigarh and mind you these are physical files with
mind you these are physical files with
mind you these are physical files with paper so they can’t be sent over email
paper so they can’t be sent over email
paper so they can’t be sent over email they have to go to Chandigarh and I
they have to go to Chandigarh and I
they have to go to Chandigarh and I imagine they sit in a vehicle and I’ve
imagine they sit in a vehicle and I’ve
imagine they sit in a vehicle and I’ve taken to Chandigarh and do this journey
taken to Chandigarh and do this journey
taken to Chandigarh and do this journey back and forth multiple times so is it
back and forth multiple times so is it
back and forth multiple times so is it any surprise that any approval took from
any surprise that any approval took from
any surprise that any approval took from anywhere from six months to a couple of
anywhere from six months to a couple of
anywhere from six months to a couple of years you see because I held a position
years you see because I held a position
years you see because I held a position that I had been elected to people had
that I had been elected to people had
that I had been elected to people had expectations
expectations
expectations from me plus they also knew that they
from me plus they also knew that they
from me plus they also knew that they can reevaluate me in five years time
can reevaluate me in five years time
can reevaluate me in five years time that is the basic accountability
that is the basic accountability
that is the basic accountability mechanism or relationship that exists
mechanism or relationship that exists
mechanism or relationship that exists between an elected and the citizens in a
between an elected and the citizens in a
between an elected and the citizens in a democracy on the other hand it is the
democracy on the other hand it is the
democracy on the other hand it is the permanent bureaucracy it is very
permanent bureaucracy it is very
permanent bureaucracy it is very difficult to subject them to any by
difficult to subject them to any by
difficult to subject them to any by their very nature by the very nature and
their very nature by the very nature and
their very nature by the very nature and design to subject them to any kind of
design to subject them to any kind of
design to subject them to any kind of accountability measures directly to the
accountability measures directly to the
accountability measures directly to the citizens so is this how cities across
citizens so is this how cities across
citizens so is this how cities across the world are governed no absolutely not
the world are governed no absolutely not
the world are governed no absolutely not cities across the world are governed in
cities across the world are governed in
cities across the world are governed in a decentralized manner they are governed
a decentralized manner they are governed
a decentralized manner they are governed from within the city by the elected
from within the city by the elected
from within the city by the elected representatives the councillor and mayor
representatives the councillor and mayor
representatives the councillor and mayor of the city in fact such is the
of the city in fact such is the
of the city in fact such is the important position of a mayor that when
important position of a mayor that when
important position of a mayor that when our Prime Minister visits cities abroad
our Prime Minister visits cities abroad
our Prime Minister visits cities abroad they not only meet their counterparts
they not only meet their counterparts
they not only meet their counterparts they also meet have meetings with the
they also meet have meetings with the
they also meet have meetings with the mayors of those cities here is a prime
mayors of those cities here is a prime
mayors of those cities here is a prime minister meeting mayors of cities across
minister meeting mayors of cities across
minister meeting mayors of cities across the world we have the Mayor of London
the world we have the Mayor of London
the world we have the Mayor of London their mayor of New York an ex mayor of
their mayor of New York an ex mayor of
their mayor of New York an ex mayor of New York mayor of Paris mayor of
New York mayor of Paris mayor of
New York mayor of Paris mayor of Vancouver in Canada mayor of Hamburg
Vancouver in Canada mayor of Hamburg
Vancouver in Canada mayor of Hamburg Germany mayor of Durban South Africa
Germany mayor of Durban South Africa
Germany mayor of Durban South Africa mayor of Busan South Korea and this last
mayor of Busan South Korea and this last
mayor of Busan South Korea and this last image is very telling actually in this
image is very telling actually in this
image is very telling actually in this image an agreement of collaboration is
image an agreement of collaboration is
image an agreement of collaboration is being signed between the city of
being signed between the city of
being signed between the city of Varanasi and the city of Kyoto in Japan
Varanasi and the city of Kyoto in Japan
Varanasi and the city of Kyoto in Japan representing Kyoto is their mayor and
representing Kyoto is their mayor and
representing Kyoto is their mayor and next to him is the Prime Minister of
next to him is the Prime Minister of
next to him is the Prime Minister of Japan
Japan
Japan representing Varanasi is a bureaucrat
representing Varanasi is a bureaucrat
representing Varanasi is a bureaucrat no sign of Mayor of Varanasi so was it
no sign of Mayor of Varanasi so was it
no sign of Mayor of Varanasi so was it always like this in India did our cities
always like this in India did our cities
always like this in India did our cities always suffer this fate were they always
always suffer this fate were they always
always suffer this fate were they always disempowered again the answer is no let
disempowered again the answer is no let
disempowered again the answer is no let me let us trace the history of city
me let us trace the history of city
me let us trace the history of city governance in India let me take you
governance in India let me take you
governance in India let me take you 5,000 years back to the Indus Valley
5,000 years back to the Indus Valley
5,000 years back to the Indus Valley Civilisation the street and the sea
Civilisation the street and the sea
Civilisation the street and the sea bridge planning of mohenjo-daro can put
bridge planning of mohenjo-daro can put
bridge planning of mohenjo-daro can put to shame some of our current towns and
to shame some of our current towns and
to shame some of our current towns and their town planners and it can be argued
their town planners and it can be argued
their town planners and it can be argued that how was the planning of
that how was the planning of
that how was the planning of mohenjo-daro even possible without an
mohenjo-daro even possible without an
mohenjo-daro even possible without an efficient administration system later we
efficient administration system later we
efficient administration system later we find in the Rig Veda the mention of a
find in the Rig Veda the mention of a
find in the Rig Veda the mention of a political organization called thus
political organization called thus
political organization called thus called a Summit II and some ethey there
called a Summit II and some ethey there
called a Summit II and some ethey there appears to be a gathering of general
appears to be a gathering of general
appears to be a gathering of general people on a certain date to deliberate
people on a certain date to deliberate
people on a certain date to deliberate on matters there is account in the
on matters there is account in the
on matters there is account in the history of the Nagar Palika system of
history of the Nagar Palika system of
history of the Nagar Palika system of governance of the city of pataliputra
governance of the city of pataliputra
governance of the city of pataliputra the present-day Patna and a great city
the present-day Patna and a great city
the present-day Patna and a great city of its time when the British arrival for
of its time when the British arrival for
of its time when the British arrival for the British arrived villages in India
the British arrived villages in India
the British arrived villages in India had the panchayat system of governance
had the panchayat system of governance
had the panchayat system of governance panchayat consisted of village elders
panchayat consisted of village elders
panchayat consisted of village elders who administered or resolve disputes
who administered or resolve disputes
who administered or resolve disputes judicial matters and they also took care
judicial matters and they also took care
judicial matters and they also took care of the regulatory matters of the village
of the regulatory matters of the village
of the regulatory matters of the village common resources like village water body
common resources like village water body
common resources like village water body grazing land or woods after the arrival
grazing land or woods after the arrival
grazing land or woods after the arrival of the British
the autonomy of the village panchayat
the autonomy of the village panchayat went in too steep depression and a
went in too steep depression and a
went in too steep depression and a current system is actually the legacy of
current system is actually the legacy of
current system is actually the legacy of that system which they set in place at
that system which they set in place at
that system which they set in place at that time with no particular urge for
that time with no particular urge for
that time with no particular urge for citizen participation and to consolidate
citizen participation and to consolidate
citizen participation and to consolidate control the British bought in a system
control the British bought in a system
control the British bought in a system of highly centralized hierarchical
of highly centralized hierarchical
of highly centralized hierarchical bureaucratic system of governance on
bureaucratic system of governance on
bureaucratic system of governance on 26th January 1950 when a constitution
26th January 1950 when a constitution
26th January 1950 when a constitution came into effect two systems of
came into effect two systems of
came into effect two systems of government government which were
government government which were
government government which were strengthened the central government and
strengthened the central government and
strengthened the central government and the state government 45 years later
the state government 45 years later
the state government 45 years later after numerous government set up
after numerous government set up
after numerous government set up committees recommending decentralization
committees recommending decentralization
committees recommending decentralization the Parliament amended the Constitution
the Parliament amended the Constitution
the Parliament amended the Constitution in 1993 the 73rd and the 74th amendments
in 1993 the 73rd and the 74th amendments
in 1993 the 73rd and the 74th amendments of the Constitution which are called
of the Constitution which are called
of the Constitution which are called watershed moments in the history of
watershed moments in the history of
watershed moments in the history of decentralization established panchayat
decentralization established panchayat
decentralization established panchayat and municipalities as the third tier of
and municipalities as the third tier of
and municipalities as the third tier of government and left it to the states to
government and left it to the states to
government and left it to the states to devolve powers it’s been 25 years and
devolve powers it’s been 25 years and
devolve powers it’s been 25 years and but states have clung on to the control
but states have clung on to the control
but states have clung on to the control that they have over our cities
so what needs to be done and what do you
so what needs to be done and what do you and I need to do we need mayor’s to
and I need to do we need mayor’s to
and I need to do we need mayor’s to function as the CEOs of the cities just
function as the CEOs of the cities just
function as the CEOs of the cities just like the Prime Minister is the CEO of
like the Prime Minister is the CEO of
like the Prime Minister is the CEO of the nation and the Chief Minister is the
the nation and the Chief Minister is the
the nation and the Chief Minister is the CEO of the state now I would call for a
CEO of the state now I would call for a
CEO of the state now I would call for a revolution by city residents demanding
revolution by city residents demanding
revolution by city residents demanding decentralization but TED talks are not
decentralization but TED talks are not
decentralization but TED talks are not where evolutions begin so practically
where evolutions begin so practically
where evolutions begin so practically speaking the first thing we must do is
speaking the first thing we must do is
speaking the first thing we must do is to petition our MLS asking them to
to petition our MLS asking them to
to petition our MLS asking them to empower our cities and their elected
empower our cities and their elected
empower our cities and their elected representatives the next thing that we
representatives the next thing that we
representatives the next thing that we need to do is to really start valuing
need to do is to really start valuing
need to do is to really start valuing and owning our democracy our own
and owning our democracy our own
and owning our democracy our own attitudes towards the importance of
attitudes towards the importance of
attitudes towards the importance of local governance are not very
local governance are not very
local governance are not very encouraging let’s look at the voting
encouraging let’s look at the voting
encouraging let’s look at the voting trends as the level of government comes
trends as the level of government comes
trends as the level of government comes closer to us it’s functions impact us
closer to us it’s functions impact us
closer to us it’s functions impact us more closely on a day to day basis and
more closely on a day to day basis and
more closely on a day to day basis and looking at the trend here one would
looking at the trend here one would
looking at the trend here one would expect the municipal elections to have
expect the municipal elections to have
expect the municipal elections to have highest number of voter participation at
highest number of voter participation at
highest number of voter participation at 80%
80%
80% but municipal elections see least
but municipal elections see least
but municipal elections see least participation we must build firstly we
participation we must build firstly we
participation we must build firstly we need to understand that citizens are
need to understand that citizens are
need to understand that citizens are paramount in a democracy in making what
paramount in a democracy in making what
paramount in a democracy in making what it is we must arm ourselves with the
it is we must arm ourselves with the
it is we must arm ourselves with the knowledge of how to play the role of a
knowledge of how to play the role of a
knowledge of how to play the role of a citizen in a democracy often when I was
citizen in a democracy often when I was
citizen in a democracy often when I was a councillor people not only took up
a councillor people not only took up
a councillor people not only took up issues with me which were Civic issues
issues with me which were Civic issues
issues with me which were Civic issues and came under the municipal purview of
and came under the municipal purview of
and came under the municipal purview of Municipal Corporation they also took up
Municipal Corporation they also took up
Municipal Corporation they also took up issues like something with this with a
issues like something with this with a
issues like something with this with a facility run in
facility run in
facility run in a state government hospital or traffic
a state government hospital or traffic
a state government hospital or traffic congestion or electric electricity
congestion or electric electricity
congestion or electric electricity infrastructure now these are state
infrastructure now these are state
infrastructure now these are state subjects likewise it’s common for people
subjects likewise it’s common for people
subjects likewise it’s common for people to take up civic issues municipal issues
to take up civic issues municipal issues
to take up civic issues municipal issues with their MLAs and MPs if four with a
with their MLAs and MPs if four with a
with their MLAs and MPs if four with a hazy and a downright poor understanding
hazy and a downright poor understanding
hazy and a downright poor understanding of the responsibilities of our elected
of the responsibilities of our elected
of the responsibilities of our elected representatives at the different level
representatives at the different level
representatives at the different level of government and the official in these
of government and the official in these
of government and the official in these levels we cannot effectively hold them
levels we cannot effectively hold them
levels we cannot effectively hold them accountable we must get the knowledge of
accountable we must get the knowledge of
accountable we must get the knowledge of the different functions of the
the different functions of the
the different functions of the government at different level and if
government at different level and if
government at different level and if that means reading a version of
that means reading a version of
that means reading a version of Constitution for dummies then so be it
Constitution for dummies then so be it
Constitution for dummies then so be it and armed with this attitude and with
and armed with this attitude and with
and armed with this attitude and with this knowledge we have to engage with
this knowledge we have to engage with
this knowledge we have to engage with the system more either from the outside
the system more either from the outside
the system more either from the outside like Manoj did imagine a city full of
like Manoj did imagine a city full of
like Manoj did imagine a city full of residents of citizens like Manoj or from
residents of citizens like Manoj or from
residents of citizens like Manoj or from the inside contest elections be the
the inside contest elections be the
the inside contest elections be the leader that you want to see I’ll end
leader that you want to see I’ll end
leader that you want to see I’ll end here thank you
”
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