National Review of Implementation of Citizen's Charters
Posted on: 22-10-2009 | Author: megha
In 1997, the Government of India launched the ambitious “Citizen’s Charter” initiative both in central and state government departments in an effort to make public service providers more open and accountable. This study tracks the progress and efectiveness of this reform over the past decade. The study assessed nearly 760 charters from across the country, followed by interviews with more than 1,100 end-users and over 320 officials from diverse departments. The distribution of Citizen’s Charters by state and sector, design and content of the charters, access to and awareness about the charters, modalities of implementation, and impact on service delivery are analyzed in terms of both strengths and weaknesses. The study also highlights the implications for policy in order to take this reform forward.