The Hindu : Bhagidari impresses South Korean team

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 18, 2003

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Bhagidari impresses South Korean team

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI MAY 17 .After the success of the much-talked about "Bhagidari'' concept in the Capital with all the accolades it has won from the Union Government and at international fora, it was the turn of the Korean Institute of Public Administration today to get a first-hand account of this citizen- government partnership aimed at improving governance and bringing a sense of accountability and involvement in developmental projects among the people.

``The South Korean delegation was immensely impressed by the successful implementation of various programmes under the Bhagidari concept. They were very receptive to the idea and sought a proper and full feedback on the programme and how it has worked in Delhi during the past three years,'' said the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit. They were informed of the active involvement and partnership of citizens through the various Resident Welfare Associations and Market Welfare Associations in implementing the entire concept at the grassroots level, she added. Terming the interest shown by the Korean delegation as a big boost to the concept of Bhagidari, Ms. Dikshit said this should further our resolve to work towards making this whole concept a big success in the rural areas also. After the response received in rural areas, the Government may take Bhagidari to the slum clusters and re-settlement colonies to get the weaker sections of society also involved in governance and to provide them a sense of belonging and involvement. The South Korean delegation, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), is on a visit to India to exchange information and dialogue in the areas of developments in public administration and good governance measures.

Ms. Dikshit, along with her Principal Secretary, S. Regunathan, gave the foreign delegation an exhaustive view of the Government's schemes, plans and efforts in the direction of Bhagidari. Its conceptualisation, implementation and benefits were also explained extensively to the visiting foreign delegation headed by Hwang Yun Won, president of the Korean Institute of Public Administration. He was accompanied by P.L. Sanjeeva Reddy, Director, IIPA.

Mr. Won said the whole concept had essentially emerged out of the firm belief in the democratic principles of self-governance and as a good governance measure, it was worth replicating anywhere in the world. In his observations, Dr. Reddy paid glowing tributes to the Chief Minister and her Government's efforts in the direction of Bhagidari which he termed as a scheme of things that had redefined democracy and brought about a new flavour and content to the concept of governance.

Ms. Dikshit also informed the delegation that the concept had been appreciated by the Union Government as well as various international agencies like CAPAM. She said governance had become much more open, responsive and available to the common citizen of the Capital and Bhagidari had ushered in a silent revolution under which those who were governing and those who were being governed were coming closer.

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