Lieutenant General of Puducherry Kiran Bedi stressed on greater civic participation from citizens and accountability of public officials, as she outlined her plans to prioritize sanitation, security and education in the union territory.
Speaking at the Global Scrum Conference here on Monday, Dr. Bedi emphasized the importance of transparency in governance. “Sharing information is power,” she said, adding that she uses social media to solicit feedback on her initiatives from netizens and Rashtrapati Bhavan alike.
Her integration of technology into daily governance does not stop there… Dr. Bedi said that she is using video conferencing in a ‘10am forum’ to facilitate clearer communication between her administration in Puducherry and the district magistrates of Mahé, Yanam and Karaikal. “Every delay in governance means a social cost, a financial cost, a psychological cost,” she said.
She has also attempted to connect with citizens offline by visiting town halls, setting up a grievance helpline and setting aside office hours to meet with the public without appointment. “The common man has a right to (access) me,” she said, adding that other public officials in the Union Territory have also followed her example.
Her ultimate goal is to foster grassroots civic engagement and empowerment, Dr. Bedi said. Referring to sanitation workers as “the real heroes” of her implementation of the Swachh Bharath Abhiyan in Puducherry, she added that the municipal commissioner served sanitation workers morning tea as a token of appreciation for their contribution to the nation. “They are not untouchables. They are precious,” she said.
