EMERGING ROLE OF RWAs : EXPLORING CITIZENS PARTICIPATION...

EMERGING ROLE OF RWAs :

EXPLORING CITIZENS PARTICIPATION FOR BETTER

RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBOURHOODS

By Chitra.S.Jain,

Architect Planner, Visiting Faculty- School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi

Member, Managing Committee, New Friends Colony RWA

INTRODUCTION

• Community participation or Public Participation worldwide is recognised as an important tool in Urban Planning at the macro level and to plan, manage and improve residential neighbourhoods at the micro level.

• Communication and participation among citizens enhances the sense of empowerment which helps entire communities to evolve better living environments responsive to its changing needs.

• Such involvement can lead to more appropriate and sustainable development solutions and stronger citizen groups and communities.

• There is an uncertainty as to the best way of involving residential communities in a given situation and each community needs to devise its own Participation process.

• In the Urban Indian context, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs)

have been recognised as an important stake holder, whose inputs and

participation are of importance at various levels of planning and

development.

• RWAs today are instrumental in encouraging citizen's participation

in planning, improving and ensuring better living environments.

• Empowering residents helps to identify better the areas of conflict

and their practical solutions, as well as participate in the decision

making process of fund utilization .

• Increasing levels of awareness and desire to participate at the

Neighbourhood level to resolve common issues are today drawing

likeminded residents to work together.

Defining a model for Public Participation at the

Urban grass root level :

The role of Resident Welfare Associations



The role of Resident Welfare Associations.... Cont.

• The upgradation of existing neighbourhoods also need to be

addressed in a planned manner.

• City level interventions and other Master Plan proposals like

revision in Floor Area Ratio , Transit Oriented Development, Mixed

Land use roads etc will transform existing planned areas and need

an evaluation of their impact.

• Socio economic transformations and increasing residential densities

have negatively stressed existing infrastructure. In many planned

residential areas, the nature of developments in adjoining areas also

have their impact on the existing infrastructure and circulation

network.



The role of Resident Welfare Associations.... Cont.

• The changing political ideologies, with its positive stress on civic

issues creates a suitable climate /platform to push for reforms.

Active participation of the public in urban planning issues, including

redevelopment and improvement is being sought for by the

Government and could be the game changer at the urban grass root

level.

• The Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) irrespective of their

socio-economic status can be instrumental in bringing about a

visible change towards this end through active Citizens'

Participation and empowerment. The citizens and RWAs of

adjoining neighbourhoods need to work together to plan and engage

local authorities to ensure implementation.

• A Public Participation model with the RWA and the Government

agencies/Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) as the main participants.

• What could in the current scenario be a viable and probable role for

the RWAs to be an effective stakeholder at the grass root level

planning process.

• Explore the nuances of various inter and intra relationships of an

RWA with its neighbouring areas and the need for inclusive

approach to remain a relevant force.

Through a Case Study we explore :

The Public Participation Model by Dr. Frank

Friesecke

• Flow of information, plans and decisions from the decision maker to public through meetings, fact sheets and mails.

INFORMATION

• Feedback from public to the decision maker through discussions and surveys CONSULTATION

• Partnership between the decision maker and public, including development of alternatives, through planning cells, ballots and consensus building.

COLLABORATION

Roles re-defined

Application of Dr. Frank

Friesecke’s simplified model to

the Indian urban grass root

level with reversal of roles of

the 'Decision maker' and

'Public' - with RWAs in the

role of the 'Decision maker'

and the local governing

bodies/ULBs in that of the '

Public' may be more effective

in strengthening Community

Participation and

'Empowerment' of the citizens .

ULBS-DECISION MAKER

RWA-PUBLIC

RWA-DECISION MAKER

ULBS-PUBLIC

Idea initiation ; need for the project-identify action

Sharing information with the citizens

Debate, Discuss and Development of project with inputs from citizens

Discuss and develop with Urban Local Bodies/Govt. departments

Sharing progress and results with citizens through meetings and mails

The Public Participation sequence :

Role of the RWA

RWA Information Consultation Collaboration

Engage citizens through-

Discussion, dialogues ,

mails

Use of digital and electronic media to

shorten participation and

response time

Role of the RWA

• This model puts the RWA in the

driver's seat with involved citizens

playing an active role at all levels

of the Public Participation Model,

from Information and Consultation

to Collaboration.

• The most important task for a

RWA is to create a platform or a

forum to engage the citizens by

way of discussions, dialogues and

mails.

• Ease of communication and

information sharing through

electronic and digital media

ensures participation results in

shorter time frames.

• Positive interaction among

interested and involved citizens

forms the basis for identifying the

needs of the community with the

RWA then taking a lead in initiating

debates and discussions and project

development.

• Approaching the ULBs with a

'COMMUNITY NEED' now

converted into a 'PROJECT' with a

defined 'GOAL' will make it more

productive for both groups to

interact and further detail the same.

• Feedback and sharing progress of

the project ensures that all citizens

continue to be involved with an

enhanced feeling of

‘Empowerment’.

COMMUNITY NEED

GOALS PROJECTS

•MAILS

•NEWSLETTERS

INFORMATION

•MAILS

•INTERACTIVE SESSIONS

FEEDBACK

•ENTHUSIASM

•INVOVEMENT

EMPOWERMENT

Role of the RWA- Public participation process

Participatory Planning and Budgeting

The RWA and citizens identify, discuss and prioritize the areas and projects for public funding.

The RWA approaches the ULB with the project.

The ULB implements the priority projects through Councillor/MLA/MP funds or through their own funds.

Areas of application

Improvement works in roads, storm water drains, parks, street lighting, solid waste

collection and disposal

The Public Participation Approach:

For Basic Civic issues

The RWA and citizens identify needs and goals

The RWA debates, discusses and develops with expert inputs innovative solutions and methodology for each specific project.

The RWA approaches and through discussions and presentations conveys the solutions and methodology to the ULB

RWA collaborates with ULB to implement the priority projects through ULBs' funds or through Councillor /MLA/MP funds.

Ideas workshop:

1. Projects involving Government agencies

2. Projects not involving Government agencies

The Public Participation Approach:

For specific Needs/Goals

Areas of application

• Traffic management, Social Infrastructure augmentation, Redevelopment of local commercial areas.

• Neighbourhood up gradation and improvement schemes

• An 'A' Grade Colony, in South-East Delhi,

with the unique distinction of being a hi-end

plotted housing area, close to River Yamuna,

surrounded by three Urban villages , Bharath

Nagar, Taimoor Nagar, Khizrabad and

adjacent to Zakhir Nagar.

• The RWA of New Friends Colony has been

in existence since 1975.

• The general lack of involvement of the

residents and the RWA resulted in

deterioration of both physical and social

infrastructure within the Colony .

• Lack of interaction between the RWAs of

neighbouring residential areas resulted in

deterioration of shared roads and

infrastructure.

Case Study: Resident Welfare Association,

New Friends Colony, New Delhi

Introduction:

The study area, New

Friends colony, an A grade

residential colony, in

South-East Delhi, has

unique distinction of

being a hi-end plotted

housing area, surrounded

by three urban villages

and Zakhir nagar and

surrounding areas like

Joga Bai etc.

Has excellent

connectivity from both

Ring Roads as well as

Mathura Road.


New Friends Colony, New Delhi.... Cont.

Taimoor Nagar

Zakhir Nagar Bharath Nagar

Khizrabad

• The current RWA of New Friends Colony has been

working on the model of 'Public Participation' as

outlined earlier for the past eight months.

• First step: Establishment of an effective

'Communication channel‘ for residents to share

their thoughts and give their inputs was put in

place. Several layers of this platform were created.

• Regular informal meetings with the residents

termed ‘Chat over Chai' were held where the

RWA shared their working methodology,

communication channels and Goals/Action Plans

and encouraged resident feedback.

• Monthly newsletters updated the residents on the

status of the Goals.

• Second step : formulate main Goals and identify

action areas.

• Each Sub-Committee to identify NEED and

translate it into GOALS and STRATEGIES.

• Third Step: To identify FUNDS.



Conflicts and Success so far :



1. Conflicts

I. Inter -community,

II. Intra- community as well as

III. Between the RWA as Decision maker and ULBs as the Public.

A. Mismatch between Fund allocation and Community needs.

B. Lack of transparency and reluctance to involve citizens/RWAs in

project identification the ULBs and detailing/development by.

2. Success I. Inclusive approach.

I. Inter –community:

• Adjoining neighbourhoods with widely varying

income groups have inherent differences in their

needs and aspirations giving rise to conflicts.

• Manifold increase in population surrounding

New Friends Colony is stressing the existing

social infrastructure , Parks and Open spaces .

• The peripheral roads are over-stressed , with

increase in volume of slow-moving traffic as well

un-regulated hawking on the carriageway and

pedestrian walkway.

• Sharing civic spaces and infrastructure does

result in encroachment by one group into the

domain of the other, the resolution of such

intergroup conflicts needs initiative as well as a

participatory approach involving citizens



1. Conflicts............

• Within each neighbourhood/community there are variations in levels of

tolerance and understanding of the need for inclusive approach to conflict

resolution which in itself becomes a conflict, albeit more subtle.



II. Intra-community:

1. Conflicts............

• Funds for improvement works related to civic amenities and parks as well as other

development works are released without information to the RWA. Hence there is a gap

between the actual need, the areas where funds need to be spent and where they are being

spent.

• For example, the Local Councillor funds were released to ' Improve back lanes' and

Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the ULB in this case ,took a decision to hard pave the same.

Neither the fund allocation nor the decision to hard pave with concrete was conveyed to the

RWA which came to light at the execution stage. The RWA intervened and the project was

shelved as the 'Need 'was to have a sustainable ,easy to maintain surface for accessing

underground piped services as well as from sanitation point of view. The RWA then proposed

use of interlocking pavers which has after a number of meetings now been accepted by the

MCD. We now have funds allocated by the ULB for the same.

A. Mismatch between Fund allocation and Community needs :




1. Conflicts............

• As end users, the residents and the RWA should ideally be involved with the ULBs in

identifying the problem areas , in prioritising interventions and project development.

• Having firsthand experience of the problems and being familiar with ground realities , Public

Participation in at least problem identification and prioritising action would reduce the gap

between 'Need' and 'Action'.

• Lack of transparency and reluctance to share information often negates 'empowerment' and

replaces it with frustration leading to gradual loss of interest and finally a sense of

resignation.

B. Lack of transparency and reluctance to involve citizens/RWAs in project

identification and detailing/development by the ULBs:




1. Conflicts............

• Case Study: A Rupees 7 crore package allocated for improvement of drains and roads.

• The potholed roads and clogged storm water drains which result in massive water logging during the

monsoons was listed by the RWA as the priority 'Need' which required immediate action.

• The RWA, in consultation with the ULB, identified the roads prone to water logging to be rectified before

surfacing of roads.

• But after small sections of the storm water drains were rectified, execution works on relaying elevated

pedestrian walkways which were in perfect condition with interlocking pavers was in full swing.

• Execution work was put on hold after protests from the RWA highlighting the futility of the exercise and waste

of the fund allocated. Information on the time frames, details of the works and the funds utilized was asked to

be shared with the RWA but met with resistance and reluctance.

• The quality of the works was also monitored by the RWA and found shoddy, forcing the execution team to

stop work.

• Presently, dialogues are on with the ULB to ensure good quality execution.



B. Lack of transparency and reluctance to involve citizens/RWAs in project

identification and detailing/development by the ULBs: ...cont


1. Conflicts............

• In issues related to conflicts between the neighbourhoods, the ULBs, bureaucrats as

well as the political representatives responsible for funding or resolving such issues

most often than not view the same with a prejudice against the higher income

group.

C. Bias and Prejudice




1. Conflicts............

• Traffic Management Plan, involving New Friends

colony and the adjoining areas, addressing problems of

the adjoining areas to resolve the conflicts.

• On its most important proposal of identifying and

developing new alternate travel routes, the MoUD and

the RWA may be partnering together on planning and

funding.

• Improvements and Managing Ashoka Park:The RWA

began with engaging the village Pradhan and residents

from both Zakhir Nagar and Khizrabad to resolve the

various problems and issues .

• Development of opens spaces and parks for the

adjoining villages is also being examined to reduce

stress on the internal parks and open spaces of New

Friends colony.

• To tackle the issues related to solid waste management ,

which is an infrastructure shared by NFC and adjoining

areas, sensitisation of the citizens of the urban villages

through ‘Pitara’ rounds.

I. Inclusive approach.



2. Success........

Conclusion

• The Public Participation model with the RWA in the role of the Decision maker is

an experimental one and has been applied in the case of New Friends Colony for a

very short duration of six months.

• With the numerous challenges, conflicts and some success it has been an

interesting journey so far and the feeling of 'Empowerment' is fairly recent.

• The long-term effectiveness of the model and its success in empowering the

citizens would however need evaluation.

• In 'Projects' other than civic issues ,involving the citizens of adjoining

neighbourhoods does need a great deal of initiative and perseverance, beginning

with confidence building.

• This could however be viewed as the first level in the emerging role of the RWAs

and could be extended to working with RWAs of adjoining neighbourhoods at the

Ward level.



EMERGING ROLE OF RWAs : EXPLORING CITIZENS PARTICIPATION...

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