Lok Satta

Lok Satta hoped initially that a nation-wide network leading to a single people’s movement is a feasible proposition. However, the experience of the past two years taught us that in today’s highly polarized India, linguistic barriers cannot be breached easily. Therefore, consciously a decision was taken to limit the grassroots work and spread of the movement to the area best known to the members, viz. Andhra Pradesh. However, the goal of the movement is governance reform in India, and it is a national goal as most reforms of political parties, elections, re-negotiation of federal relations, alternative methods of ensuring stable and effective executive, bureaucracy, justice system and institutional checks against abuse of office need union legislation or constitutional reform. Therefore, Lok Satta movement aims to work for consensus building nationally to forge strong alliances which will eventually become a national platform for governance reform movement. The following four steps are proposed for such an alliance-building which might lead to a cohesive national platform Core Groups of Eminent Citizens in select cities

Seven major cities have been initially identified to form core groups of eminent citizens who will identify democratic reforms and advocate them. Our approach is outlined as listed below

The effort will be limited to a few major cities with infrastructural and logistical advantages. Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Calcutta, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad will be the cities for the time being

A presentation is made to a group of 20-30 eminent citizens on Lok Satta activities and the proposal

Lok Satta seeks the following guidance and help from the eminent citizens in the city They may form into smaller groups, each group dealing with one or more facets of governance reforms

In about 6 months’ time each group should finalise a clear, detailed and unambiguous statement of the reform proposals in the sector

Each such proposed reform should be accompanied by adequate documentation in support of it

There should be total unanimity in the group on each proposal

Lok Satta will make the following arrangements:

Identification of a nodal agency to provide basic infrastructure for the team’s work. For instance, Nehru Centre is the nodal agency for Mumbai

Meet travel expenses and incidentals of members within the city or state Provide financial support for secretarial help Provide financial and other support for research and documentation After the report of a team is ready, it will be published and circulated widely.

A regional workshop will be conducted with all the teams in a city or State

A national work shop will be conducted with all the core groups after careful preparation for building consensus around an agreed agenda

Networking with Activists

There are several reputed voluntary organizations and local movements whose work is related to governance reforms. It is proposed to consciously network with them and share experiences and learn from each other. There are great synergies in such interaction and sharing. Organizations like Public Affairs Center in Bangalore could identify such voluntary organizations and bring them together. Eventually such interaction may lead to common approach to governance reforms, and might accelerate the process of consensus-building. We have identified and are currently working with the following groups across the country:

Center for Civil Society (CCS) - New Delhi

Dr.Partha J Shah, President
Parth@ccsindia.org
Working on governance reforms

Association of Youth for a Better India (AYBI) - Mumbai

Ms Zainab Bawa
Aybi@vsnl.com
Working on governance reforms.

Manushi - New Delhi

Ms.Madhu Kishwar
manushi@nda.vsnl.net.in

Partners in advocating electoral reforms with an emphasis on alternatives for enhanced participation of women.

Shetkari Sanghatana - Talkhed, Pune

Shri Sharad Joshi
Sharad@mah.nic.in
Working together on electoral reforms and farmers issues.

Agni - Mumbai

Mr.Gersonda Cunha
Agni.ngo@vsnl.com
Working together on electoral reforms.

Praja - Mumbai

Mr.Nitai Mehta
Adity@bom3.vsnl.net.in
Partners in advocacy of local self governance issues and electoral reforms.

Public Affairs Center (PAC) - Bangalore

Dr.Suresh Balakrishnan
Sureshb@pacindia.orgCollaborators in policy research on governance issues, local self governments and electoral reforms.

Catalyst - Chennai

Mr.R.Desikan
Rdesikan@vsnl.com
Working on electoral reforms.

Humanist Organization - Mumbai

Jayesh Shah
Humanist@vsnl.com
Governance and electoral reforms

Co-operative Development Foundation (CDF) - Hyderabad

Mr.Rama Reddy
Cdf@hd1.vsnl.net.in
Collaborators in policy research on local governance, governance reform and electoral reforms.

PRIA - New Delhi

Mr.Rajesh Tandon
Pria@sdalt.ernet.in
Local self governments and electoral reforms

Institute for Social Sciences (ISS) - New Delhi

Dr.George Mathew
Iss@nda.vsnl.net.in
Local self governments

Liberty Institution - New Delhi

Barun S Mitra
Bmitra@bigfoot.com

Center for Study of Development Societies (CSDS) - New Delhi

Dirubhai Seth & Yogendra Yadav
Working together on local self governments

Consumer Organization for Reforms in Electricity (CORE) - Hyderabad

S.R.Vijayakar
Srvijay@hd2.dot.net.in

Working together on Energy sector reforms

Interaction with various influential opinion makers and decision makers
Ultimately reforms can be institutionalized only with the active support and willing consent of opinion makers and decision makers. FDR therefore proposes to interact with the following groups in a planned manner in order to build consensus and promote tangible, specific reforms.

captains of industry
media persons, newspapers and television networks
think tanks like Centre for Policy Research
leaders of political parties
senior civil servants
members of parliament
influential state-level leaders
leaders of government

Workshops and national consultations
Usually seminars and workshops are not productive in generating effective and sustainable follow-up action. However, there is need to have a few workshops and consultations for thorough and rigorous scrutiny of specific reform proposals. Lok Satta proposes to conduct a limited number of such workshops and consultations after meticulous preparation.
It is difficult to envisage how exactly a national movement for governance reforms can be promoted. However, the first step is creation of a national platform, which in turn needs a critical mass of eminent citizens who are committed to a set of specific governance reforms which are thoroughly researched and well-documented, and around which a broad consensus is built.

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