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Civil Society Consultations in Andhra Pradesh, August 2005 On Better Governance

Civil Society Consultations in Andhra Pradesh, August 2005 On Better Governance. Facilitated by APMAS. Major Themes. the impact of economic reforms on the poor, including privatization of basic services like education, health, power and water,

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Civil Society Consultations in Andhra Pradesh, August 2005 On Better Governance

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  1. Civil Society Consultations in Andhra Pradesh, August 2005On Better Governance Facilitated by APMAS

  2. Major Themes • the impact of economic reforms on the poor, including privatization of basic services like education, health, power and water, • the Government being more responsive to International Agencies like the World Bank, IMF, DfID and to MNCs than to citizens, CSOs and CBOs. The second point in particular needs to be noted while designing better governance systems since it hits at the very root of democracy which requires governance to be based on citizen needs. • Interference by politicians at every level of governance (e.g., contracts for Government works, appointment and transfers of officers and staff).

  3. Reforms Identified • Decentralization and devolution of powers to District, Mandal, Municipal and Panchayat Bodies, and capacity building of these bodies. • Making Government transparent and accountable, removing corruption, imposing penalty for neglect and corruption, and using the Right to Information (RTI) Act to help ensure this. • Education and health • Rights of marginalized groups and communities, in particular dalits, tribals, women, minorities and the disabled.

  4. Suggestions for Better Governance • Local Governance • Transparency, Accountability, Right to Information and Administrative Reforms • Education and Health • Dalit Issues • Health • Social Discrimination • Policy Making • Gender Issues • Political Interference • Police and Judicial Reform • CSO- Government Partnership

  5. Conclusions and Recommendations • First, the process of CSO consultation needs to continue • Second, some further research is needed on some key issues • Third, governance reform • Fourth, and perhaps most important, a practical feasible action plan to take governance reform forward is needed.

  6. Specific Suggestions and Demands from Dalit Organizations • Making credit available to Dalits from Banks • Contracts for food for work, dealerships for dairies and ration shops should have adequate reservation for Dalits. • To meet the Constitutional obligations, 22.5% of the state budget should be transferred to a separate body (e.g., SC/ST Corporation or some other body) • Land distribution to Dalits should have 50% reservation for women • Women’s protection cell are a must in all police stations since atrocities on women were widely prevalent.

  7. Specific Suggestions on Other Issues • Fluoride water treatment for drinking purposes • Publication of Government Budgets in newspapers along with implementation details. • The expenses of each officer should be monitored and made publicly available. • Elected representatives should compulsorily stay in the place from where they are elected. • There was also unanimity on the need for the right to recall elected representatives, especially at the local level. • Judicial and police reform is urgently needed.

  8. Continuation workshops & Action plan RIGHT TO INFORMATION 2006

  9. RIGHT TO INFORMATION 2006 • Creating awareness • Effective implementation of the RTI Act 2005

  10. Objectives of the workshop • To enhance the understanding of the provisions of RTI Act in CSOs for dissemination to the disadvantaged communities. • To advance the understanding of the role of ‘Public Authority’. • To discuss and agree the role of civil society in demand creation. • To obtain suggestions for broad action planning to contributing to the effective utilisation of the RTI Act by the CSOs and the communities.

  11. Tentative Schedule: • Workshop at Tirupathi: 21st February 2006 • Workshop at Vijayawada: 24th February 2006 • Workshop at Warangal: 28th February 2006

  12. Expected outputs and deliverables: • Printed handouts on provisions of the RTI Act, role ‘Pubic Authority’ on delivery side and role of CSOs on demand side to be developed and delivered by CGG. • Printed report of the three workshops to be circulated among participants. • Suggest strategy for future engagement and broad action plan • Recommendations by participants on future course of action • Key issues and responses on RTI act imple.

  13. Thanking you • Please visit • www.apmas.org • www.cgg.gov.in

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