With an objective to facilitate a coalition to make governance inclusive, responsive, transparent and accountable, a group of civil society organisations has launched a National Campaign for Reforms in Governance at Hotel Gemini Continental, Lucknow, 12 August.

Representatives from PRIA, UPVAN, Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra (SSK), the Bar Association, NAFRE, Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Water Aid, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), etc. came together to decide and deliberate upon the future course of the campaign and also how they can become stakeholders in it. Speaking at the occasion, Balwant Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor, Ram Manohar Lohia Law University, Lucknow, said that justice and rationality should be the basis of all decisions taken by public institutions. While addressing the participants, Dr Rajesh Tandon, President, PRIA, said that everyone can join this campaign, not necessarily by physically associating with it, but by raising voices on issues concerning governance at Panchayats and cities, and by working sincerely and being true to oneself. Participants at the campaign agreed to mobilise Gram Sabhas and community based organisations as well as educational institutions to provide an impetus to the endeavour. The Indian Peoples’ Theatre Association (IPTA) presented a play ‘Uttam Desh Hazir Ho’.

The campaign brought on board civil society organisations, academia, think tanks and media. It was pivoted around the key issues of Election Reforms, Institutional Reforms for Democratic Governance and Strengthening Leadership. It is expected that with the necessary impetus from the CSOs, much desirable change will come about in the public institutions making them act in a responsible, responsive, transparent and accountable manner