Demand Side of Accountability

In thought-provoking fashion,R. S.Murali contemplates the problems facing the decision makers of India in the twenty first century. Accountability in governance is the key issue today and the world is looking for some approach to understand the same. He examines in detail the demand side of accountability for the first time ever and provides an in-depth analysis, and means, for all the stakeholders, particularly the policy makers and researchers. The ATA© model (the accountability- ansparencyactionability trio) arising out of this research is bound to be a useful tool for those involved in conceptualization, implementation or evaluation of accountability/transparency. This book, the result of his research based on hard urban data, makes compelling reading, and is a must-read for both policy-makers and those affected by such policies.This book is being released at a time when the national debate is dominated by the elections to the 16th Lok Sabha.The UPA which has been ruling the country for nearly a decade after the 2004 elections has left a very poor track record of governance marked by a series of high profile scams and brazen corruption. The three recent agitations led by three charismatic leaders Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev and Arvind Kejriwal have made accountability and good governance especially with the focus on eradicating corruption from public life the key issue. In this context, well conceived ideas for good governance become vital to add depth to the contents of the debates. More importantly they may have an impact in the framing of the public policies of the incoming government. N VITTALRetd. Chief Vigilance CommissionerThis book is an important contribution to the literature on public accountability and transparency, offering valuable conceptual models, grounded in the reality of urban life through a case study of Chennai.Samuel PaulFounder, Public Affairs Centre and former Director, IIMAA must-read for anyone interested in the challenges of fixing our cities, and the role played by systemic reforms related to information, accountability and participation in improving urban services. The book ‘Demand side of Accountability’ brings much-needed rigour to the critical element in a ‘city-systems’framework, and holds much value for practitioners as well as policy makers. It deserves wide dissemination and discussion.Ramesh RamanathanConvener, JanaagrahaA major effort in understanding the theoretical underpinnings of governance in civic bodies.M.R.SivaramanRetd. Expenditure Secretary, Government of India