Mumbai Conference Paper Abstract (Draft)

74th Amendment in Theory and Practice:
A case study of Mumbai’s P/N Ward
By Tara van Dijk


Abstract: The 74th Amendment to the Indian Constitution, ratified in 1992, called for greater decentralization of money and powers to urban local governments and mandated the inclusion of women and scheduled tribes and casts (via seat reservation) at the local level deliberatory branches. This constitutional action, commonly heralded as “bringing power to the people,” was believed to be a harbinger of a new era of urban development marked by equitable participation, greater accountability, and sounder, more relevant, development and planning schemes. The question now, 13 years later, is has it ushered in a new and better era of urban governance and development and truly brought “power to the people,” in quantifiable ways? More specifically, how has it been operationalized and are urban citizens' (the poor and women in particular) varied needs better addressed by post-74th Mumbai governance? This paper begins to explore these questions via an in depth case study of Mumbai’s P-North Administrative Ward’s elected and appointed staff and processes to better understand the current workings of decentralization and affirmative action in Mumbai at the ground level.