Open Space Development in an informal settlement in Odisha under Jaga Mission
Over the past several months, my journey through the study of citizen participation, as a UCAN Fellow with Janaagraha, has taken me to cities where democracy is not just debated in council halls but lived, practiced, and reshaped by ordinary citizens. From the lanes of small cities like Bhuj and the informal settlements of Odisha to the bustling wards of metropolitan cities like Bengaluru and Kochi, each story has revealed the transformative potential of participation when citizens are given space, structure, and support to act.
Across the twelve case studies I documented, citizen participation has moved beyond symbolic consultation, it has redefined governance from the ground up. This has led to improvements in physical infrastructure and service delivery, empowerment of communities and elected representatives, enhanced accountability, and a renewed sense of ownership among residents.
Participatory forums have improved how cities identify, prioritise, and deliver services. In Odisha and Kerala, participation has helped streamline civic issues like waste management, sanitation, and local infrastructure maintenance by ensuring citizen feedback feeds directly into municipal action. In Bhuj, residents’ inputs through Ward Committees have resulted in better road and drainage works, with local monitoring by WCs reducing delays and cost overruns. In Mangaluru, consistent citizen follow-up through Ward Committees led to neighborhood-level improvements like new streetlights and better waste collection.
Further, participation has led to the empowerment of communities and elected representatives. Participatory forums have expanded civic spaces for women, youth, and marginalized groups to voice concerns and shape decisions. In Kerala’s Kudumbashree network, women’s collectives have moved from microfinance to micro-governance—co-creating ward plans and participating in budgeting. In Odisha, Slum Dwellers’ Associations have evolved into a fourth tier of local governance, directly executing infrastructure projects and managing community funds.
“Ward Committees are a bridge between councillors and citizens, through them power gets decentralised. Greater public participation not only strengthens governance but also helps us, as councillors, serve our communities more effectively.” -Mr. Ranjan Sil Sharma, Ward Councilor, Siliguri Municipal Corporation
During crises, participatory structures became lifelines. Kudumbashree CBOs in Kerala mobilized swiftly during floods and COVID-19—running kitchens, producing masks, and aiding relief. In Gurugram, RWAs desilted drains pre-monsoon and set up local COVID care facilities, showcasing community-led preparedness and resilience.
Together, these efforts have led to better civic services, stronger inclusion, and visible accountability. Citizens are not waiting for officials to act, they are shaping budgets, maintaining public assets, demanding transparency, and building partnerships. Perhaps most importantly, citizen participation has reshaped relationships between governments and citizens, between communities themselves, and between people and their cities.
This series began with a question: Can citizens truly shape their cities?
It now concludes with an answer—They already are.
Citizen participation has created not just better outcomes, but a culture of belonging—one meeting, one ward, one city at a time.
