In January 2000, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi initiated a ‘Bhagidari Programme’ as an attempt to resolve the various problems being faced by the city’s residents. These problems include water shortage and pipe leakages, chocked sewers, power shortage and faulty electricity meters, solid waste heaps, broken roads and lanes, poor maintenance of parks, traffic congestion, crime, encroachments, slums, grievances related to collection and payment of taxes, issue of licences, sales tax, weights and measurements used for commercial purposes. In order to fulfil such an enormous task, various Departments of the Delhi Government are working together along with a number of citizen groups, without whom, it is realised, successful governance cannot be achieved.
The citizen groups and government officials meet, interact, overcome their inhibitions, and develop a genuine dialogue with each other. Frequent workshops are held to discuss issues, identify possible solutions, and execute pragmatic steps towards the programme’s implementation. Monthly reviews are held by departmental heads and deputy commissioners to assess the programme’s progress; reviews by Chief Secretary and Steering Committee, headed by the Chief Minister, are held quarterly. Thus, Bhagidari may be referred to as a showcase of citizen-government partnership towards good governance. A ‘Bhagidari Cell’ has been created in the Chief Minister’s Office for the coordination of activities, and the General Administration Department functions as a nodal agency to provide financial and administrative support. A decentralised approach is being followed to involve more people in the programme: at the Revenue District Level, the Deputy Commissioners (Revenue) operate as district coordinators. At present, more than 1100 citizen groups are part of the programme.
Smt. Sheila Dikshit, the Honorable Chief Minister of Delhi, visited the Observer Research Foundation campus on April 10, 2008 to make a presentation on her government’s 'Bhagidari Programme'. The discussion was facilitated by Ambassador M. Rasgotra. This discourse is an abridged documentation of the Chief Minister’s speech and the ensuing discussion with the participants.
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