Seventy per cent of Bangaloreans feel that systems to ensure accountability are inadequate and not effective enough, calling for better urban governance.
BANGALORE: Seventy per cent of Bangaloreans feel that systems to ensure accountability are inadequate and not effective enough, calling for better urban governance, says a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) survey.
The survey 'Bangalore-Citizens Perception on Democratic Capital' covering a sample of respondents across various income groups, highlights people's faith in democratic systems in urban management and also their dissatisfaction with the level of transparency and systems for ensuring accountability of their local governments.
Sharing the survey highlights here on Tuesday, Vedamoorthy Namasivayam, PwC Executive Director said, "the findings have strategic implications in the management of city's utilities and municipal body".
For a city grappling with growth pangs, it is generally perceived that only infrastructure and service delivery issues define the performance areas for civic agencies. The report, he said, clearly showed good governance is important for citizens.
PwC defines Democratic Capital as a key element of democratic governance structures, which encompasses the drive for greater transparency and better communication; development of public-private partnerships and creation of new forms of democratic participation.
According to the survey, performance by civic agencies as perceived by citizens is synonymous with implementation of projects and delivery of services.
While half the numbers of respondents were satisfied with the quality of infrastructure projects, 72 per cent thought that delays and cost over-runs were plaguing all such projects in the city.
Sixty one per cent of respondents felt that appropriate ward level information on financial and other aspects of projects were not accessible to citizens.
A large majority (76 per cent) also perceive that projects in the city are plagued by corruption. Clearly, perceptions of poor performance of civic agencies and lack of information to citizens are closely related, Namasivayam said.
Over one third of respondents were unaware of instruments like the use of Right To Information Act to obtain information from civic agencies. Most (82 per cent) of them felt media plays an important role in highlighting issues to citizens.
A majority of respondents (53 per cent) also felt that civic systems did not adequately respond to the needs of the poorest 20 per cent of the population. Across all income categories, most (82 per cent) felt government agencies differentiated between rich and poor citizens at the point of interface with them.
Reflecting on their own role and responsibilities, an overwhelming majority of citizens (76 per cent) admitted that they showed apathy towards public property and most (80 per cent) accepted that they commonly showed disrespect for civic laws and violated them.
Sixty five per cent felt citizen's participation was needed in preparation of ward level plans while 77 per cent supported role of Resident Welfare Associations and NGOs in delivery of basic services. Fifty six per cent of respondents were willing to pay higher user charges for higher levels of services.
A large number of lower income groups expressed an intention to vote in the coming municipal elections, compared to higher income groups.
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