Contesting inclusiveness: Policies, politics and processes of participatory urban governance in Indian cities

Abstract

This article attempts to understand the inclusion of citizens and other actors, the structure of incentives and accountability and service delivery outcomes in relation to participatory forms of urban governance in Indian cities. Under a decentralized set-up, the political nature and the poor attendance of people in participative forums seriously serve to undermine the constitutionally envisaged aim of ‘ deepening democracy’. New forms of participatory arrangements have been dominated by the middle classes and/or powerful local leaders, resulting in the disempowerment of poorer members of the communities concerned. Patronage politics were engraved in these new forms, where the targeted delivery of services yielded high dividends for the patrons. All these factors necessitate the effective engagement of the excluded and disadvantageous section of people with the policies, politics and processes of participatory governance in Indian cities.

Smart as (un)democratic? The making of a smart city imaginary in Kolkata, India

“…Many such participatory interventions were biased towards inviting the middle and upper-middle classes (Coelho et al, 2013). They were marred by elite capture (Chattopadhyay, 2015;Kundu, 2011;Z erah, 2009), under which the middle and uppermiddle classes consolidate their advantages in service delivery. These classes may also use their voice, empowered through participatory governance, to vilify the poor residing in informal settlements as threats to urban development (Chattopadhyay, 2015;Z erah, 2009).…”

“…They were marred by elite capture (Chattopadhyay, 2015;Kundu, 2011;Z erah, 2009), under which the middle and uppermiddle classes consolidate their advantages in service delivery. These classes may also use their voice, empowered through participatory governance, to vilify the poor residing in informal settlements as threats to urban development (Chattopadhyay, 2015;Z erah, 2009). To tackle these challenges, engagement with grassroots NGOs, community-based bodies with elected representatives, and women activists is considered crucial for effective design of participatory spaces (Williams et al, 2018).…”

Intermediary Politics in a Peri-Urban Village in Mangaluru, India

“…Historically, South Asia experienced the penetration of localities by formal institutions in agrarian societies during the colonial times but continued to rely on traditional headmen to collect land taxes and manage land records (Ananth Pur and Moore, 2010, p. 606). Since independence, Indian governments have attempted to reduce the influence of these traditional authorities by promoting democracy and decentralization through secularism, formalization and legalization (Chattopadhyay, 2015). However, in many parts of the country the reform process remains half-finished or become intermixed as customary authorities became elected in ostensibly democratic politics.…”

Of Slums and Politics in Puri, Odisha: The Localisation of the Slum-Free Cities Mission in the Temple City

“…34 Taking into account the existing literature on slum listing, the list of eligible slums in Puri is not simply the product of a technical mapping exercise and of site visits of experts as suggested by the Mission guidelines (GOO 2011:6). It is the product of a deeply political process involving various intermediaries at slum, ward and city levels (Chattopadhyay 2015;de Wit and Berner 2009;Mitlin 2014;Raman 2015). While I did not have access to the complex and lengthy process of negotiation, cooperation and contestation during the listing of slums, I would like to draw attention to the particular role of the lead-NGO Pragati (Hull 2012).…”