APPEAL from BRWCA

Because It Involves Us All

BANGALORE RESIDENTS WELFARE AND CULTURAL AASSOCIATION (Reg) also referred to as Neighborhood Associations is involved in a big way in setting the priorities of local infrastructure . The RWAs are actively involved in raising issues like leaking pipes, clogged drains, billing problems, security cover for citizens, water conser­vation, sanitation, construction of roads, payment of house tax, etc; and at times bigger issues like use of electronic metres, privatisation of water, and demolition of illegal structures. Before this trend started, local funds were spent at the dis­cretion of the local BBMP corporator and many citizens felt that year after year important works were either neglected or poorly implemented.
Residential welfare associations are a window of opportunity to consolidate loose networks of local associations engaged in activities around Bangalore. They have changed the dynamics of urban politics. This article attempts to trace how, while working in an increasingly globalised and polarised city like Bangalore, RWAs demand a better quality of life and more equality for their members. It also assesses the collective urban practices through which individual grievances are redressed.

Essentially, the goal of the RWAs is to create a platform to voice the demands of Bangalore citizens regarding the improvement of local infrastructure like roads, pave­ments and sanitation. This exercise involves renewed forms of mobilisation by the urban middle class to rearticulate their claims and capture most of the government resources of the developmental of the locality.. Therefore, RWAs, together with other more formal, private sector organi­sations, constitute an civil society which has increased its political and eco­nomic space and created a power block in better educated and economically well off the RWAs are more powerful,

The resi­dents are not even aware of the muni­cipal action plan pertaining to their locality. They are not even aware of the planning process and their role. Bangalore city presents vibrant participation avenues through RWAs for the middle class and for its engagement with issues related to local governance. This reflects the existence of a thriving civil society in Bangalore City as a number of programmes, incentives and forums enhance people’s participa­tion.
The activities and demands of the RWA are non-confrontational and non­controversial in strategy and approach. RWAs represent a window of opportunity to consolidate loose networks of local associations, often engaged in local activi­ties, around the Bangalore City services. The dynamics of Bangalore politics is thus chang­ing with these new players coming to the fore with enormous vigour. These groups are vocal in their demands and are increas­ingly networked groups of elite that seek to organise themselves in order to pres­sure the government to address the demands of “Consumer Citizens”.   The aim of this study is to assess the collective Bangalore residents practices through which individual grievances are redressed includes the associations of group of families residing in the neighbourhood locality or a particular class of people or a block of apartments or housing societies or an entire ward. These self-motivated resi­dents’ associations engage and strive for a cleaner, greener, safer and healthier envi­ronment by empowering the residents to assert their rights and participate in the governance of their localities.  The RWA also co-opt and coordinate services with several other parallel agencies like non-governmental organisa­tions (NGOs), public utilities and caste-based or region-based organisations to support major civic issues.
The RWA compile lists of the tele­phone numbers of all the service providers which are then circulated among the resi­dent families,  also conduct monthly executive committee review meetings with the representatives of their localities. These issues might be regarding water supply (low-pressure, supply disruptions, breakdown of pipes, faulty bills, and meter faults), drainage (blockage of open drains, blocks of closed drains, flooding of under­ground pipes on streets, etc), street clean­ing or garbage disposal affecting the loca­lity as a whole.

The RWA are registered bodies which also ensure provision of services such as maintenance of parks, educate citizens on their rights, and con­duct review meetings. Also interact regularly with service providers such as the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), the Bruhat Ben­galuru Mahanagara Palike (BMP), the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB), the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM), the BDA, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and other government departments, to monitor and maintain civic amenities. Organise cultural festivals, and provide security and day-care services for children. Some of the resi­dents might shy away from contacting the officials directly and prefer to seek the help of an intermediary like the RWAs.
Linkages between public utilities, the municipal corporation, the MLA and councillors, local leaders and manage­rial alliance between civic groups like NGOs and RWAs. Approaching the nearest RWAs with a grievance has become the normal prac­tice as against the conventional manner of contacting public officials. Joint complaints are taken up during execu­tive committee meetings lodged on behalf of the entire locality or the build­ing.

The RWAs tend to play out in opposi­tion to the local leaders such as an Corporator, ward members, etc, essen­tially competing for legitimacy and performing the role of an intermediary communicating the demands and needs of the local populace. In addition, RWAs provide a platform for talks and crisis neglecting to attend the general body meetings at other times. A common problem affecting the entire locality leads to collective action after formal discussion among all the residents or a group, a more institutionalised local rep­resentation and civic culture that is del­egated to RWAs or intermediary to con­front or lobby for action. The fact that their civic power and resources can determine governance outcomes (as our cases show) is the best example of the idea of a “political society” in action. A local neighbourhood network can be an questioning the democratic nature of the “conventional democratic channels” they aim to reduce the gap between demand and supply of services particularly the basic amenities such as water supply and sanitation.

Office-bearers of the RWAs in Bangalore do not dismiss the role of local politicians like the MLA, the Corporator or ward members, in fact, conduct reviews or quarterly review meetings and invite these representatives to update them about local problems and demands. One such practice is visible with respect to the Associaiton of whole Jayanagar.
For any further Communication/Complaints/Requests/Suggestions
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