Shri Jagadananda
Centre for Youth and Social Development, Bhubaneswar
Shri Jagadananda leads the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD), an autonomous development organization working with the tribal and rural poor in Odisha with an aim to realize the goal of people-centered equitable development. Sustainable rural livelihoods, participatory governance and community-based disaster resilience are amongst the major areas of work of the Centre in his journey over the last four decades. He held office as the State Information Commissioner, Odisha, to advance the right to information (RTI) agenda in the State and was a Member of the State Planning Board, following his active campaigning for people-centric decentralized planning. He was a Member of the Standing Committee (CSOs) at NITI Aayog on institutionalizing partnership between Civil Society and the Government.He has held office as Chairperson, Voluntary Action Network India (VANI), the Chair of Credibility Alliance and the Chair of Sa-Dhan, a national network of community development micro finance institutions.He was a senior visiting fellow at CIVICUS – World Alliance for Citizen Participation, and worked on issues of legitimacy, transparency and accountability within civil society at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Cambridge, USA. His publication ‘Civil Society Legitimacy and Accountability’ is widely available in French, Spanish, Arabic and English.
Session 1F: Public Lecture
Chairperson: Umesh V Waghmare, JNCASR, Bengaluru
Participatory Governance and the Need to Promote and Nurture Active Citizenship
Participatory governance plays a significant role in enhancing democracy by engaging citizens as active participants in decision-making processes. Central to this approach are four key pillars: participation, transparency, accountability, and inclusion.Participation empowers citizens to participate in governance through public consultations or participatory budgeting, ensuring their voices shape policies that affect their lives. Transparency fosters trust between citizens and governments, as open communication about decisions and actions reduces corruption. Accountability holds public officials responsible for their actions, ensuring that governance aligns with citizens needs. Lastly, inclusion guarantees that marginalized communities have a seat at the table, promoting equity in governance.The role of science and technology is critical as a powerful tool for enhancing civic engagement and fostering transparency through digital platforms and e-governance. However, challenges such as social inequalities and civic apathy persist, necessitating strategies that include civic education and reforms to encourage active citizenship.Ultimately, there is a need for collective action to create a more inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance system that reflects the diverse needs and aspirations of all citizens, empowering individuals to engage meaningfully in their communities.