With over 20 lakh crores (USD 300 billion) announced by the Central Government alone as part of COVID-19 relief measures, the crisis has not only increased but also laid bare the number of citizens dependent on government relief measures. As we await the short term and long-term effects of the pandemic, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are already playing a critical role in ensuring vulnerable communities are identified and reached. In fact, India is estimated to have over 3.3 million NGOs, many of whom work at the last mile. Critical in the ability of CSOs to effectively engage with government authorities and serve vulnerable communities is for them to have the right tools and information.
WHY WE ARE DOING THIS
A pan India survey of over 160 CSOs conducted by PRIA about their upcoming interventions and challenges , revealed that 30% CSOs would be involved in enabling access to government schemes, 26% would be involved in advocacy with government agencies, 15% would monitor government programmes One of the biggest challenges however faced by a majority (93%) was coordinating with the government. Importantly, 58% asked for access to knowledge as a crucial capacity need.
The Accountability Initiative at the Centre for Policy Research has been researching and studying the nuts and bolts of government functioning for over 10 years. In the current context, it is imperative that accessible, relevant and applicable information on government functioning is available to all CSOs who are either directly engaging with the government or working to complement government efforts in ensuring access.
There are three critical inter-related pieces of information on government functioning that all development professionals should know.
Information on flow of funds in government programmes
Information on administrative structure across levels of government
An understanding of the local self government itself – usually the first point of contact for most citizens
This track will not only engage with the WHY of government engagement but also talk about HOW that can be made possible.
SESSIONS: October 7-8 , 2020
Day 1: October 7, 2020 from 9.30 am till 5 pm [IST]
9.30 am - 10 am [IST]
IntroductionIntroduction to Building Civil Society Organisations of the Future by Arthan
Introduction to Future of Governance track by Accountability Initiative, CPR
10 am - 10.45 am [IST]
Fireside chat: Anurag Behar, Azim Premji Foundation in conversation with Yamini Aiyar, Centre for Policy Research
10.45 am - 11.15 am [IST]
Announcement: Launch of Understanding State Capabilities - Course on understanding the nuts and bolts of government functioning
By Anurag Behar, Azim Premji Foundation11.15 am - 12.30 pm [IST]
Panel 1: The importance of understanding the nuts and bolts of government functioning
Description: While it has been generally accepted that collaboration between civil society and the government is critical for the delivery of quality public services, there still exist challenges on both sides to make this relationship strike. One challenge for the development sector is the lack of understanding of government systems and processes. With this panel, we aim to bring together professionals to talk about why the development sector needs to lay more emphasis on understanding the ‘nuts and bolt of government functioning’ to be able to engage with the government more effectively.
Speakers: Luis Miranda (Indian School of Public Policy), Poornima Dore (Tata Trusts), Nikhil Dey (MKSS) and Avani Kapur (Accountability Initiative, CPR)
12.30 pm - 1.30 pm [IST]
Panel 2: Building Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes for Effective Government Engagement
Description: There are three critical interrelated pieces of information on government functioning that all development professionals should know- information on the flow of funds in government programmes; information on administrative structure across levels of government; and an understanding of the local self-government itself, which is usually the first point of contact for most citizens.
This panel will address specific capacity gaps in engaging with the government with respect to the above-mentioned points. It will also breakdown the different stakeholders in the development ecosystem, their specific challenges and capacity requirements.
Speakers: Srikanth Viswanathan (Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship & Democracy), Anuradha Joshi (Institute of Development Studies), Chakshu Roy (PRS) and Rajika Seth (Accountability Initiative, CPR)
2 pm - 3 pm [IST]
Panel 3: Deep Dive - How can grassroots field workers engage with local administration effectively?
Description: In combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of grassroots organisations has been key in ensuring that vulnerable communities are able to access government services. It is these grassroots professionals, often known as our ‘field workers’, whose skills and ability to navigate government systems have been put to test. Recognising the urgent need to empower these last-mile soldiers, this panel will discuss how to ensure our professionals have the right tools and information to effectively engage with government authorities and serve vulnerable communities.
Speakers: Rukmini Banerji (Pratham), Ashif Shaikh (Jan Sahas), Mirai Chatterjee (SEWA) and Biraj Patnaik (National Foundation of India)
3 pm - 4 pm [IST]
Masterclass 1: Union, State, District, Block and Villages - Disentangling Decentralized Governance in India by Accountability Initiative, CPR
Speakers: Rajika Seth (Accountability Initiative, Centre for Policy Research), Sanjana Malhotra (Accountability Initiative, Centre for Policy Research)4 pm - 5 pm [IST]
Masterclass 2: ‘Only Wicked Minds Solve Wicked Problems’: Systems Thinking for the 21st Century by Rajesh Kasturiranjan, Socratus
India's social sector has always faced complex challenges, but with the COVID19 crisis, these problems have become 'wicked,' i.e., characterized by extreme complexity, where some stakeholders have a vested interest in keeping the system the way it is and where every pathway has moral as well as material dimensions. The human tragedy of migrant labourers stuck in large cities and making their way back home on their own is a good example. Socratus is pioneering a fresh approach to wicked problems, where we believe that instead of solving them 'directly' we are better off looking at them along with the minds of the people embedded in the problem; make those minds wiser and we have a better chance overall. In other words: only wicked minds solve wicked problems. The natural question: how to cultivate wicked minds? This session will expose you to some of the approaches to cultivating wicked minds and some of the tools we are building to help do so.
Day 2: October 8, 2020
9.30 am - 10 am [IST]
Introduction
Introduction to Building Civil Society Organisations of the Future by Arthan
Introduction to Future of Governance track by Accountability Initiative, CPR
10 am - 10.45 am [IST]
Keynote Speech: Atishi, Member of Legislative Assembly, Aam Admi Party, Delhi
10.45 am - 11.45 am [IST]
Panel: Grantmaking as an Enabler of Citizen-state Engagement
Description: This includes building trust, collaboration, and capacity among citizens/civil society organisations as well as the government machinery to be able to engage with each other more effectively.
Speakers: Bharath Visweswariah (Omidyar Network India), Sandhya Venkateswaran (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), Zulfi Haider (Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives) and Avani Kapur (Accountability Initiative, CPR)11.45 am -12.30 pm [IST]
Masterclass: The Truth Lies where the Money Hides - Identifying Fiscal Roadblocks in India's Welfare Programmes
Speakers: Meghna Paul (Accountability Initiative, Centre for Policy Research), Ritwik Shukla (Accountability Initiative, Centre for Policy Research)12.30 pm - 1.30 pm [IST]
Panel: A Delicate Thread - Government Perception of Citizen Participation do they Foresee?
Description: Is government perception of citizen participation open or closed? Real or fake? Invited or claimed? What challenges of citizen engagement do they foresee?
The government in the past many years has opened many channels for citizens to engage with government processes from adopting successful citizen-led pilots to introducing more formal structures of engagement like social audits. The recently released National Education Policy had also solicited suggestions from citizens.
This panel will discuss the extent to which these doors of engagement are accessed by citizens focussing on capacity (ability and attitude) of government functionaries to leverage citizen participation.
Speakers: Anjali Yadav (Deputy Development Commissioner, Godda, Jharkhand), Gaurav Gogoi (Member of Parliament), Rai Mahimapat Ray (Director IT, Government of Jharkhand), Uma Mahadevan (IAS, Principal Secretary, Govt of Karnataka) and TR Raghunandan (ex-IAS officer & Advisor, Accountability Initiative, Centre for Policy Research)1.30 pm - 1.45 pm [IST]
Summarising Remarks & Launch of PULSE for Development
Avani Kapur (Accountability Initiative, CPR)1.45 pm - 2.15 pm [IST]
Everything you wanted to know about the bureaucracy but were afraid to ask?A stand up act by Ex IAS officer TR Raghunandan to take you deeper into the world of bureaucrats and bureaucratic functioning.
IMMEDIATE OUTCOMES
What the government system looks like from the inside.
The role citizens can play in the government system.
Roadblocks in the intended purpose and structure of welfare schemes.
Knowledge, skills and attitudes required to engage with the government more effectively
