Bangalore willing to pay high for better services

A majority of Bangaloreans (56 per cent) are willing to pay higher user-charges for better services and amenities, and a vast majority (87 per cent) feel that the poor should get subsidised minimal amenities.

A clear majority (76 per cent) admit citizens lack civic sense and a similar proportion agrees that they callously violate civic laws.

These are some of the findings of a survey Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) has undertaken on 'Citizens perceptions on democratic capital in Bangalore'.

PwC defines democratic capital as a key element of democratic governance, which covers the drive for greater transparency and better communication, development of public-private partnerships and creation of new forms of democratic participation.

Said Vedamoorthy Namasivayam, executive director, PwC, "The findings have strategic implications in the management of the city's utilities and municipal body. For a city grappling with growth pangs, it is generally perceived that only infrastructure and service delivery issues define the performance areas for civic agencies." But democratic capital enables that performance.

Jan Sturesson, partner, PwC, who is leading a 28-people delegation from Sweden, said, "Bangalore is in competition among Asian cities, as well as cities in India. Bangalore as a brand like every city needs social and technical landmarks." In this competitive environment, citizens have to ask themselves what do they contribute.

"Democratic capital helps in building the city through its own people. Here citizens are not consumers or customers but are part of a growing city and they enhance the city's values," he added.

It also found that most citizens (77 per cent) want the government to encourage participation of user groups like residents' welfare association in managing delivery of services like water, garbage and maintenance of parks. Ward level participation is critical to develop a 'city development plan'.

A strong majority (71 per cent) intends to vote in the next municipal elections, but most are vague about the Right to Information Act as an enabler of governance.

A majority (51 per cent) cannot agree that there are effective processes to ensure accountability of elected representatives and a similar proportion think that key decisions affecting them are taken by unelected officials who are not accessible to the citizens.