Tag: News Analysis

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Published Books written by Shashikant Nishant Sharma

PARTICIPATORY PLANNING APPROACHES

Participatory planning processes can have many goals with a variety of communication modes, as well as the decision- making actions taken by stakeholders during such a process.  Parties involved in a planning process have their own goals based on political, cultural and economic factors that are relevant for them. The overall challenge is to define how to support these processes. One approach to tackle this challenge is to make a careful definition of the needs of the intended audience. These needs can be roughly divided into three main orientations that are described below (Geertman, 1996, Wachowicz, 2002). 

Decision-Oriented Approach

The central paradigm in this approach is that planning is a process of choice in a situation of uncertainty. This uncertainty is present in the knowledge of the planning environment.  In this case, one is not sure about the physical and socio-economic structure of the environment and its response upon the actions of actors. The goal of planning is mainly to inform actors about future decision- making and make future operational decisions interpretable

Action-Oriented Approach

In this approach, planning is defined as the result of actions between actors, which are part of the socio-spatial system. Their actions need to be compliant to and embedded in the society. Decisions are based upon interactions among actors. This means that the focus of planning is not per se on a critical evaluation of the spatial organization itself, but on the analysis of the intentional actions and knowledge of the actors involved in planning.
Search-Oriented Approach

The aim of planning as search for direction is not directly to prepare for an operational decision given a well-defined problem, but to reveal alternatives and new solutions outside the direct scope of the observed problems. It is meant for actors to learn and become wiser (Kleefmann, 1984).

Shashikant Nishant Sharma
Urban Planner
{Courtesy: Sharma, S.N. (2012), Participatory Planning in Plan Preparation: A Case of Delhi, Graduate Thesis, Department of Physical Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi}

NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF PARTICIPATORY PLANNING

Even those who are most sympathetic towards participatory planning have pointed out some shortcomings of the process. High degree of citizen mobilization will heighten political conflicts rather than consensus (Grant, 1994).
As stated by Day (1997) there is the problem that the outcomes of participatory processes will not truly reflect the aggregate of citizen preferences as few people take the advantages of the opportunities for participation that do exist. Also Grant (1994) explains that participation is a luxury in modern societies because it requires skills, resources, money and, time that many citizen do not have. People tend to become involved in planning issues only when they perceive that the issue is in their immediate and tangible interest (Cataneseet al, 1984). Sometimes, objectives of participation are those of experts and being possessive of their ideas often planners and policy makers are unwilling to admit nonprofessional interference in decision making.Some of the shortcomings of the participatory planning can be enlisted as follows:
a.    The participative approach has not been yet validated in real case studies, therefore its actual application is still unknown
b.    To start each of the steps, a set of technical and non-technical requirements need to be met, which in many cases might not be in the hands of the planner and the sanitation team. This situation could discourage the team, and the process could be stopped
c.    In order to carry out such a process, it is necessary to train the community workers in participatory techniques
d.    To carry out a participatory decision making process, it is necessary to continuously involve the stakeholders and organize meetings for discussion. This will need the availability of sufficient funds and time
e.    There is the risk of concentrating the decision making process only on those stakeholders who have a technical background (such as sanitation experts) and the authorities, leaving the end users out of the process
Thus, we can see that participatory process is not a fool proof mechanism for planning. It can be seen that the need of public participation arises due to two main reasons so far as I can perceive and they are either the plan/planning is inadequate to serve the purpose of the general public or we want to share responsibility or to counter the bureaucracy and political stalemate. This also reflects that planners’ expertise in interest articulations fails and then the need for greater participation arises. In society, there exist far greater differences than assumed equality of resources, access to information, capacity to articulate and present issues, capacity to organize into groups that forms the conceptual foundation upon which participatory methods and processes are built (Beatley, 1994 et al). Participation is often skewed in the interest of the influential classes or some powerful groups active in decision making. If few groups participate then it is sure to get skewed plans and if many groups participate then it become unmanageable and sometimes it take a lot of time in arriving at consensus or common agenda.

Shashikant Nishant Sharma
Urban Planner
{Courtesy: Sharma, S.N. (2012), Participatory Planning in Plan Preparation: A Case of Delhi, Graduate Thesis, Department of Physical Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi}

PRINCIPLES FOR PARTICIPATORY PLANNING

The principle underlying participatory planning has been explored over time and here, we will discuss them in brief. According to the Parish/Ward Planning Manual of Uganda the key principles that this approach to participatory bottom-up planning are based on include:
a) Inclusion of poor people and other vulnerable groups in the planning process and promote gender equity
b) Plans need to be realistic and the planning process must be for projects which can be implemented using available resources
c) Planning should not be a one-off exercise, but a continuous process
d) Plans should be people focused and empowering
e) Planning should start from vision and strength /opportunities not problems
f) Plans should be comprehensive covering all sectors (holistic) and integrated
g) Planning should promote mutual accountability between community and public officers
h) Plans should be flexible, simple and learning oriented
i) The scheduling of planning activities at the lower local council levels should put into consideration the recommended timeframe of the overall planning.
The key principles that this approach to participatory bottom-up planning are based on inclusion of poor people and other vulnerable groups in the planning process and promote gender equity in sharing of the benefits of planning and development. Plans need to be realistic for involving public and the planning process must be for projects which can be implemented using available resources and augmented by the local expertise. Planning is a continuous process and thus for a fruitful result participation starts. Participation of public will be greater if the plans are people focused and empowering in nature. Planning starts from vision and strength /opportunities of an area and them it tries to sort out the threats and weaknesses through the use of expertise and participation of the users. Plans that are comprehensive covering all sectors and integrated entails more public participation as people view this as an opportunity for their redemption. Planning which promote mutual accountability between community and public officers leads to increased participation of the stakeholders. Public participation is feasible where plans are flexible, simple and learning oriented. The scheduling of planning activities at the lower local levels should put into consideration the recommended timeframe of the overall master planning for the town. After understanding the principle underlying the public participation, it would be fruitful to see how planners and policy makers have used public participation in different forms like planning with people approach.

Shashikant Nishant Sharma

Urban Planner

{Courtesy: Sharma, S.N. (2012), Participatory Planning in Plan Preparation: A Case of Delhi, Graduate Thesis, Department of Physical Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi}

THE NATURE OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Public participation has diverse nature and the diversity of its nature and interpretability has made it popular for the policy planners and authors alike. Public participation is an inclusive rather than exclusive process as more and more stakeholders are involved where only a few planners used to make plan for the multitude of population.
Moreover, a number of studies have determined that the majority of those who choose to attend hearings actually represent organized interests with significant economic stakes in the outcome (Fiorino, 1990). Although public participation is voluntary but often is guided by the motives of the interest groups except where a legal requirement specifies otherwise for the initiation of the process and to the implementation.It may be a complement to legal requirements, but cannot conflict with legal provisions in force, in particular with ownership and user rights.
As Kenney (1999:498) expresses:  “While local governments and stakeholders are often tangentially involved in these programs through mandatory public participation processes, many of the most salient regulatory programs channel decisions almost exclusively through federal agencies and, eventually, through federal courts where the influence of national interest groups is paramount.”
It is fair and transparent to all participants and follows agreed basic rules applicable to all. It is based on participants acting in good faith for the betterment of the community at large. It does not guarantee or predetermine what the outcome will be as it involves a great degree of consensus building and persuasion to common agenda.After understanding the nature and forms of the public participation, now let’s look at the basic benefits associated with public participation process and exercise.

Shashikant Nishant Sharma

Urban Planner

{Courtesy: Sharma, S.N. (2012), Participatory Planning in Plan Preparation: A Case of Delhi, Graduate Thesis, Department of Physical Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi}

PURPOSE OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Kurian Thomas and RamkumarBendapudi in their paper on participatory planning has summarized the purpose of participatory planning as follow:
(1) Identification of the felt needs of the people
(2) Bringing forth consensus
(3) The empowerment of local disadvantaged groups
(4) Integration of local knowledge systems into project design
(5) Two‐way learning process between the project and local people
(6) Political commitment and support
(7) Accountability in local governance  
Public participation serves various purposes in planning and coordination the combined efforts of a number of stakeholders. It plays an important role in increasing awareness and mutual recognition of interests of different stakeholders and reaching at consensus after meetings and deliberations. It further helps in gathering information and enhancing knowledge base of the community and experts. It has been found that increased public participation leads to improvedprovision of goods and services to the community. It stimulates involvement in decision making and in implementation processes of various plans and projects. It leads to enhanced acceptance of policies, plans and operations undertaken by experts and planners. It enhances the transparency and accountability in decision making process which used to be solely in the hand of experts. Participation helps in better identification and management of conflicts and resolution of issues and problems in a fair and equitable manner. Increased participation of the citizens broadens the scope for consideration and verification of planning and project documents thus, ensuring a social auditing of the development projects. Participation of the public serves a noble goal of education public about the development and making them capable to participate general in planning processes and further strengthening the roots of democratic values in the general public. Public participation can ensure legal protection for the experts from the government if it violates some planning provisions and serves the greater interest of the public. The most important purpose that the participation of the public serves is that it ensures greater acceptance of planning projects and ease of their implementation.
The nature and purposes of public participation cannot be wholly disregarded, however, even when thinking more about methodology and mechanics than about its political significance, because the purpose of public participation has a direct influence on its practice (Acland, 2009).

Shashikant Nishant Sharma

Urban Planner

{Courtesy: Sharma, S.N. (2012), Participatory Planning in Plan Preparation: A Case of Delhi, Graduate Thesis, Department of Physical Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi}

BENEFITS OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

The benefits of public participation are many and it is not easy to categorise them. It is important to note that public participation suggests direct involvement of the public and takes place, preferably, in an open discussion with decision makers. The author has tried to categorise some of the important benefits of public participation under various themes development, management, conflict resolution etc. after studying extensively.In general, a number of benefits can be listed which are given below for easy understandability of the pervasive impact of public participation in the plan making and plan implementation processes. According to an online source on public participation (http://www.biodiversity.ru/coastlearn/pp-eng/benefits.html), the following are the main benefits that public participation can help in achieving if conducted in an effective manner.
Sustainable Development
The Aarhus Convention (under United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) grants the public rights and imposes on Parties and public authorities obligations regarding access to information and public participation and access to justice (http://www.biodiversity.ru/coastlearn/pp-eng/boxes/sustainability.html).
Sustainable development can be achieved only through the involvement of all stakeholders in an effective manner. Ultimately the users have a greater say in the development than a policy framer.
Environmental Protection
Principle 10 of the RIO DECLARATION recommended public participation to handle environmental issues:
“Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens, on a relevant level. On a national level, each individual should have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decision making processes. States should facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy, should be provided” (UNESCO, 1992).
Environmental issues can be addressed when valued by the public. It is important that a party represents the interest of the environment in the public debate.
Conflict Management
Although conflicts cannot be avoided, they are made explicit in the public participation debate and resolved through the process of dialogue and consultation with groups with conflicting interests.The statement of the World Bank Technical Paper 139- Environmental Assessment Sourcebook, are given below:
“The purpose of taking the views of effected people into account is to improve project viability. The Bank has found that where such views have been incorporated in the design, the projects are more likely to be successful. The Bank has not found community participation to be an impediment to project execution. On the contrary, projects in which effected peoples’ views have been excluded, suffers from more frequent delays and poorer quality” (World Bank, 1992).
Project Understanding and Reduction of Public Opposition
The better understanding of the benefits of the project can surely minimize the opposition by the local people. Very often the policy making and planning is done by expert outside the local community which is a source of distrust and to overcome this, there is need for public consultation.
“Public consultation, participation and involvement in the early stages of the project can prevent the dissemination of rumours and the rise of negative perceptions which are very difficult to change once they take root” ((http://www.biodiversity.ru/coastlearn/pp-eng/boxes/sustainability.html).
Social, Environmental and Economic Benefits
If the public is involved in the full decision making process, their concerns may be met early on in the planning process when changes may be easier to make, rather than late in the process when even small changes may cost both time and money. This is possible in a participatory planning making process. Local people need to be made aware of the economic, social and environmental benefits of the project or programme.
Effective Use of the Available Data
According to Budd (1999), public participation and consultation is an opportunity to solicit the “hidden” knowledge of the wider community and their key concerns. This is possible in an environment of public participation and consultation in plan making process. Local people are more aware about the planning and development issues and they might have some form of indigenous problem solving skills which can be better harnessed in a participatory planning process.
Other Benefits
Effective community consultation, early on in the project cycle, creates ownership (shared responsibility, involvement) for the project. It provides the opportunity to accurately convey the implications of a proposal to all interested parties, thus enhancing political credibility. Additionally, it is a mean to ensure full mitigation of significant impacts, including due consideration of possible alternatives (Budd, 1999).
Acceptance of the public as a valued partner in the participatory process can inspire the co-operation between citizens, their government, and industries that is crucial to the success of planning. The benefits of public participation are both for short term and long term planning and development. Skill learnt in one programme or project can be utilized in other developmental works either initiated by the government or themselves.

Shashikant Nishant Sharma
Urban Planner
{Courtesy: Sharma, S.N. (2012), Participatory Planning in Plan Preparation: A Case of Delhi, Graduate Thesis, Department of Physical Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi}

16th Non-Alligned Movement Summit: Tehran Declaration for New World Order


The 16th two-day Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) got concluded on 31st of August 2012 with adoption of Tehran Declaration.
There are few highlights of the Tehran Declaration. Let’s summarise and conclude what they have long term implications for the new world order. Tehran Declaration stressed commitment to the goals and principles of the movement and rejection of the policies of the western hegemony aimed at imposing its will through unilateral coercive measures under the USA.
The solidarity with Syria in its just right to restore its full sovereignty and peace based on the inclusive and participatory process between the Syrian regime and the rebel forces. The NAM leaders also condemned the US unilateral sanctions on Syria, stressing that these sanctions violate the international law and the UN Charter.
The leaders also reiterated support to establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons and mass destruction weapons in the Middle East, calling on Israel, the only country in the region which has not joined the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty yet, to join the Treaty without delay and put its nuclear facilities under the Comprehensive Safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The NAM also mandates the peaceful use of nuclear energy by Iran and whoever wishes to do so.
They condemned terrorism in all forms and stressed that terrorist acts are considered a violation of the international law as they affect the countries’ safety, territorial integrity and stability and threaten their regional and national security.
NAM is still relevant if the member states act for creating a new world order opposing the unilateral actions of USA. UN is going is die in coming years due to its age old no entry in Security Council. And unhindered and unilateral action or use of forces by USA and NATO has proved in recent years that United Nations Organization has failed in its endeavour to ensure a safer planet unravaged by the wars, hunger and poverty.
The NAM is capable of being a substitute for UN in case of its silence during the unilateral action of USA. It is fact that NAM lacks economic and military resources to counter anti-socialist forces of the world.
The commendable wisdom shown by Russian and China in opposing the UN Security Council’s move for use of forces in Syrian, has discouraged USA which is planning to make regime change in Syria to suit his neo-imperial policy unnoticed by many brilliant policy analysists of the world. Due to the increasing strength of regional blocs like BRICS and Arab League has somewhat deterred USA in taking unilateral military action by it has already taken economic measures like sanctions to make them come round to the terms of USA policy of being big boss of the planet.
The declaration of Tehran should pave a smooth way for the peaceful use of Nuclear Energy for the benefits of the humanity. India and Pakistan should help Iran acquire nuclear technology in a speedier and time bound manner.
The statehood for the Palestine is also commendable. Israel should admit that for peace and prosperity, good neighbours are needed not the wealthy and healthy realtives staying miles away. Palestine must be accorded statehood and political support to grow.
Let’s hope that by next NAM summit, the world witnesses some of the resolutions of the NAM get fructified.
Shashikant Nishant Sharma
Policy Analyst and Proponent of New World Order

Ethnic Violences in India

The recent incidences of the ethnic violence in North-Eastern part of India is a matter of concern and we must think over it and take the urgently needed remedial measures to contain the spread of the violences in other parts of the country. The joint and consolidated efforts of the state and central government is needed to curb the menace of the anti social elements who are using the emails and SMSes for arousing the bad feeling and making the people of North-Eastern India insecure and there is already reports for Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka that lot of people from north east are going back home. The assurance given by our honorable Home Minister has literally no impact on the people and they are still flying back to their home towns and native villages.

The non proactive role of centre is quite clear and this has augmented the situation in South Central states of India. There is no efforts to trace out the anti social elements who are spreading the rumours electronically. Mere verbal assurance would not stop the people from northeast to stay back but a thoughtful and consolidated effort to bring to book the wrongdoers will be a strong message to all the anti national elements getting nourishment cross borders.

The uproar in Parliament should not be a passing instance but an starting point for the proactive role of central government in dealing with such anti national and anti peace activist operation within Indian soil and operating from across the border.
The unity and integrity of nation must be preserved at any cost and no one should be spared who attempts to do so.

Jai Hind…!

Shashikant Nishant Sharma
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