Constituency Served

public

Details of Work

PAC works towards improving governance by identifying and promoting initiatives that facilitate a pro-active role by citizens. To achieve this, it is involved in: research on public policy, programmes and services; advocacy and citizen action support; advisory services to state agencies; capacity building and information dissemination. PAC initiated report cards, an aggregation of public ratings on different aspects of urban public services. These research findings are used to inform the public and use the collective action of citizen groups to improve accountability and performance. Its major focus is to provide support to citizen action groups. It has contributed towards establishing and sustaining Swabhimana, a platform of NGOs, neighbourhood groups and resident associations in Bangalore, which is engaged in improving the quality of life by building bridges between citizens and the city administration. PAC also addresses broader issues like enhancing electoral transparency and probity. It has published a guide for citizen groups on Public Interest Litigation. To create civic awareness and build a core group of future active citizens among children, PAC conducts the Children's Movement for Civic Awareness (CMCA) programme in 40 schools through 35 trained volunteers who guide the club members. The civic clubs are formed to promote student participation in civic activities pertaining to relevant issues and themes such as garbage, water conservation and air pollution. There are 40 clubs of which 11 are in government schools. The membership is open to students from Std 6-9 and each club has 30-40 children. Club activities range from creating awareness through information sessions, slide shows and films to taking up an intensive project or campaign on a relevant issue. PAC has been involved in conducting the millennial survey. This first nation-wide independent survey focuses on five basic public services which affect the weaker sections and have substantial governmental investment --drinking water, health and sanitation, education and child care, public distribution system and road transport. PAC follows a multi dimensional approach to disseminate information, which, it believes, is a citizen's basic right. It publishes Public Eye, a quarterly newsletter; and documents and publishes all report card studies, research studies and important advocacy initiatives. Every two months it conducts an Open House, a meeting open to all citizens to discuss public issues of contemporary interest. It has a website that carries most of its publications.