Community Governance in Urban Contexts: adapting governance systems to meet the challenges of rapid urbanization

2. Community Governance in Urban Contexts: adapting governance systems to meet the challenges of rapid urbanization VarunaRathnabharathie

3. Out line • Background of the location • Evolution of Kotte slum areas • Impact on Development • Objectives of the study • Methodology • Results/Observations • Challenges/Crucial Factors

4. Background of the location • Sri JayawardenapuraKotte is the capital city of Sri Lanka • Below poverty line House hold population is 144,106 • Consist of all three ethnic groups • Slum dwellers are often overlooked by government authorities and excluded from city development plans

5. Project interventions Mainstreaming of community voices and active community participation at all levels in development planning and infrastructure development activities. • Phase I (2004-2008) • Implemented during protracted conflict in Sri Lanka • Government paid little or no attention to slum re-location or infrastructure development. • Phase II (2009-2014) • Implemented immediately after the war • Government prioritized infrastructure development of capital cities with a strong emphasis on preservation of heritage buildings and beautification of the city. • Resulted in certain slum communities being relocated outside city limits.

6. Evolution of Kotte slum areas • During the late President R. Premadasa’s rule (1987-1994) 330 families were settled there to initiate an industrial zone. The settlers were granted 20-30 perch land blocks each in close proximity to marshy land and a canal • MC chairman and other politicians granted land to their political supporters to garner votes during the elections • Different development projects were implemented close to the said location and workers from these projects also settled here eg. Dematagoda railway yard, Maligawatta Condominiums project etc.. • Original / legal owners of the land blocked the land and gave to their children, some even sold the land to out siders at a higher price • Urban migrants have settled illegally on government land

7. Impact on Development • Generate a higher daily income in comparison to the average rural income. However, their expenditure is extremely high compared to the rural communities. • Political backing - able to secure running water supply (tap water), electricity and most importantly tax billing. • The provision of the above ensures legal authenticity of the lands they reside in. • Arunodayawattalocation -began with 330 families, now the total is 2750 families in the same land area with no additional infrastructure facilities.

8. Symbiosis nature of slum dwellers and politicians • Community meetings, rallies, protests, individual visits, poster sticking, decorations by cutouts and to put together mobs that threaten opposition parties, conduct attacks and in some cases even any sort of “contracts”. • The second most powerful community in the area is illegal business men. Eg. drug dealing and smuggling, safest haven for criminals and drugs. Black money plays a major role in the Sri Lankan economy and is most likely prevalent in the slums too. • Some work as umbrella repairers, cobblers, grass cutters, care takers and more importantly garbage collectors and baby sitters etc. • A particular caste of people originally from South India and dating back to colonial times still continue to work as sanitary workers in the MC. They belong to specific slum pockets, designated to people of that particular caste eg. SakkiliWatta, WilambeethaWatta

9. Objectives of the study • To find out the best social model to incorporate community voices in to the decision making process of infrastructure development in Slum locations • Scaling up to include other Urban councils and Municipal councils with a similar social structure inclusive of certain alterations based on location specific factors

10. Methodology • The two projects were conducted during two different time periods and data was collected during these time periods • Qualitative data collection - as focus group discussions, workshop out comes, informal discussions, one to one interviews, small group discussions, etc.. • 1st phase it was attempted to prepare plans with the community, present the plans to the decision making bodies and finally to implement the plans based on the community needs or concerns • 2nd phase attempted to further permeate community structures such as City Development Committees (CDCs) and CDCs recognized by the KMC as a formal structure and garner their involvement in the decision making process • Closely measured the process of establishing CDCs and CDC representation in the decision making process of infrastructure development

11. Results/Observations • EstablishedCDCs representing all the GN (GramaNiladharee Division) • The composition of the CDCs was also discussed in detail in many forums and it was finally decided to get the representation of the most active community leaders in each GN division • Through the CDCs community participation in ground level implementation work reached a high of more than 35% of projects • Monthly meetings were conducted and all CDC suggestions were handed over to the KMC • Strong relation ship between MC members, officers and the community (2nd phase of the project) • Transparency of the transactions

12. Challenges/crucial factors • Mayor’s perception • Selection of the members to the CDCs • Community participation/time contribution • Participation and voice of women (Time, competence) • Domination of educated and rich minority voice • Executive powers of the mayor • Conflicts between Community/MC members/Officers • Divisional Secretary’s role • At a time of absence of the project…? (CDC, Community budgets, international forums, etc..)

13. Thank you…