Background

• An exploratory study to help generate citizen perspectives and voice, on how Gram Panchayats, constituting the lowest tier of the PRI, deliver services was carried out in Tumkur district, immediately north of Bangalore.
• Survey enumerators were hired and trained directly by PAC.
• Findings for 4 GP services (drinking water, sanitation, streetlights and roads) indicated high dissatisfaction levels among all the services except for drinking water.

• Dissemination of findings was widely carried out at the district level, in the four talukas (comprising of the study areas) as well at the State government (at the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj – RDPR department), during late 2005.

Outcome & Current Status

• During May-June 2006, the findings were disseminated among the community and follow-up advocacy measures initiated through participatory exercises in two Gram Panchayats (selected on the basis of a ranking exercise carried out). Some community members in Nyayadhagunte GP presented two written complaints (use of Gram Panchayat funds for personal purposes) to the Research Team. These were passed on to the RDPR, and they have subsequently taken action on the same.

• As a reaction to these complaints, a memo was sent to all the EOs in Tumkur district instructing them to visit all GPs in their jurisdiction and investigate any such complaints in the presence of the complainants, the GP members and the taluka officials.

• The report currently titled ‘Taking the Citizen Report Card to Gram Panchayat Services’ has been circulated widely internally as well as among rural experts for comments and suggestions, and would be brought out in the next financial year. n article on the CRC has come out in Karnataka Vikasa, the monthly magazine brought out by RDPR, in its December 2006 issue.