B.ENGAGED: Elected Representative Engagement Program
Program Overview
The Elected Representative Engagement Program brings together elected representatives, citizens, corporates, media, educational institutions, and other key stakeholders to address pressing issues at the ward and constituency levels collaboratively. By encouraging open dialogue and joint problem solving, the program bridges the gap between citizens and their representatives, while building trust, accountability, and shared ownership of local governance. Through structured interactions and on-ground engagement, it seeks to transform citizen participation from passive observation into active partnership, creating a responsive and inclusive model of governance that can be replicated across Bengaluru.
Vision
The program envisions a participatory, democratic society in which elected representatives and communities work together through transparent dialogue, shared responsibility, and collaborative decision making.
What the Program Does
Facilitates regular and structured dialogues between elected representatives and stakeholders to identify key issues and co-create practical solutions.
● Engages corporates as active partners by enabling them to contribute expertise, volunteer support, and CSR resources to improve local governance.
● Involves the media as an active stakeholder by offering platforms for constructive interaction with elected representatives, promoting transparent communication, amplifying civic issues, and increasing public awareness of governance efforts.
● Engages educational institutions by providing students with access to elected representatives’ offices, allowing them to work on real governance projects and gain hands-on field experience.
● Establishes working groups that include elected representatives, civic leaders, and community organisations to design, implement, and monitor solutions.
● Ensures accountability and transparency through regular communication, measurable outcomes, and public reporting of progress and participation.
Impact and Benefits
For citizens, the program creates meaningful opportunities to voice concerns, participate in developing solutions, and witness tangible improvements in their neighbourhoods.
● For elected representatives, it provides a structured framework for engagement that helps them better understand community priorities and demonstrate responsive and accountable governance.
● For corporates, the program offers a strategic platform to contribute through CSR initiatives, employee engagement, and domain expertise, enabling visible and lasting social impact in the communities they serve.
● For the media, it offers access to ground-level information, supports constructive engagement with elected representatives, and strengthens the role of the media in amplifying civic issues and promoting transparency.
● For educational institutions, it creates opportunities for students to engage directly with governance processes, work on real civic initiatives, and gain experiential learning that supports their academic and professional growth.
● Ultimately, the program fosters a culture of collaboration and participatory governance, strengthening democracy at the grassroots level.
Program Milestones: 2017
What Is the Program?
The Corporator Engagement Program was designed to strengthen local governance by building constructive, informed, and collaborative relationships with elected ward representatives. The initiative focused on equipping corporators with data-driven insights, civic knowledge, and structured engagement platforms that supported more accountable and citizen-centric leadership.
Key Highlights
The program expanded its reach by engaging 17 corporators through individual meetings that introduced the initiative and helped establish meaningful collaborations. To strengthen transparency and accountability at the ward level, Ward Information Boards were installed across all 17 ward offices.
During the year, several community awareness activities for women’s safety and water conservation were conducted with strong support from B CLIP Civic Leaders. Engagement with Standing Committee Chairpersons and BBMP officials was also initiated to advance department-wise programs and strengthen institutional partnerships.
| Ward | Corporator |
|---|---|
| Nandini Layout | Rajendra Kumar |
| Govindrajnagar | Umesh Shetty |
| Marenhalli | Madhukumari Vageesh |
| Nagarbhavi | Mohan Kumar |
| Vasanth Nagar | Sampath Kumar R |
| Madivala | Manjunath Reddy |
| Domlur | Lakshminarayan |
| DJ Halli | Sampath Raj |
| Pulikeshinagar | A.R. Zakir |
| Aramanenagara | Sumangala Keshav |
| Subramanyanagar | H. Manjunatha |
| Sriramamandir | Deepa Nagesh |
| Marappana Palya | Mahadev |
| Shankar Mutt | Shivraju |
| Shakthiganapathi Nagar | Gangamma Rajanna |
| Vrushabhavati | Hemalatha |
| Sampangiram Nagar | Vasanth Kumar |
Project Kalpataru
In collaboration with Grant Thornton, Let’s Endorse, and BBMP, B.PAC organised a tree plantation drive at Byrasandra Kelagina Kere. With the enthusiastic participation of more than 60 employee volunteers from Grant Thornton, over 120 saplings were planted, contributing to the enhancement of local green cover. The initiative received valuable support from BBMP Corporator Smt. Shilpa Abhilash of Ward 58, whose involvement helped ensure the smooth execution of the project.
Project Aarogya
Project Aarogya was conceptualised to address essential yet often unmet health needs of students in government schools. Beginning with a holistic health screening initiative, the project aimed to provide every child with a comprehensive physical health card while also digitising health records for ongoing reference.
Project Paatshala: School Transformation Initiative
Project Paatshala at the Government School in Dommasandra was implemented in collaboration with Intel’s CSR team, driven by a shared vision to create a more vibrant and engaging learning environment. As part of the initiative, the school’s walls and play areas were redesigned and revitalised, creating brighter and more welcoming spaces that encourage learning and play. The transformation not only improved the overall campus atmosphere but also contributed to an increase in student intake, making the school a more attractive and inspiring space for students and parents alike.
Collaboration with Anthill
January to March 2020
A comprehensive survey was conducted across government schools in the Shivajinagar and Shantinagar Assembly Constituencies. B.PAC, in collaboration with B.CLIP Civic Leaders, played a key facilitative role throughout the initiative. The team supported the process by identifying suitable school locations, coordinating site visits for the Anthill Team , and connecting them with respective school heads. B.PAC managed the administrative workflow by preparing and submitting permission request letters and ensuring that approved permissions were formally handed over to Anthill, enabling the project to move into its next phase.
Student Engagement & Elected Representative Engagement
Participatory Democracy Fellowship Program
August to September 2019
The Participatory Democracy Fellowship Program offered an immersive learning experience that enabled participants to work closely with Ward Corporators of BBMP. Designed as a comprehensive 100-hour program, the fellowship combined on-ground exposure with meaningful interactions with key civic stakeholders, providing students with a deep understanding of ward-level governance.
Throughout the program, participants contributed to a wide range of civic initiatives, including the creation of Vision Documents for wards, strengthening communication channels, managing social media outreach, and supporting ward-level observation activities.
The fellowship was implemented across four wards: Vasanth Nagar, Kadu Malleshwaram, Aramane Nagara, and Govindrajnagar, offering participants a rich and diverse civic environment for experiential learning.
Member of Legislative Assembly Fellowship
Jayanagar Assembly Constituency
October to November 2019
The Christ College Fellowship provided students with the opportunity to work directly with the Office of the MLA from the Jayanagar Assembly Constituency. During this period, three fellows were actively engaged in research, field observations, and on-ground implementation activities. Their contributions supported ongoing constituency initiatives and provided valuable insights that strengthened the MLA’s development efforts.
Member of Legislative Assembly Edition
Shivajinagar Assembly Constituency
January to March 2020
This edition of the Fellowship offered students an immersive opportunity to work closely with the MLA of Shivajinagar, providing firsthand exposure to public leadership and constituency-level governance. Structured as a 100-hour program, the fellowship blended on-field engagement with meaningful interactions involving key stakeholders and the MLA. Throughout the program, participants contributed to several impactful activities, including policy research, observation and participation in Assembly proceedings, surveys of public spaces, school needs assessments, and analysis of government scheme data
Public Leadership Program
Public Leadership Workshop
2023 to 2024
The Public Leadership Workshop is designed to equip grassroots political leaders with essential leadership principles and practical campaign skills. The program introduces core concepts of leadership development and delivers structured sessions tailored to the evolving needs of political party volunteers and emerging grassroots leaders.
In 2021, B.PAC conducted these workshops, engaging over 100 leaders. As part of the larger Public Leadership Program (PLP), B.PAC completed training for more than 300 JD(S) leaders across five dedicated batches.
In 2023, B.PAC successfully delivered nine sessions for JD(S), conducting comprehensive two-day Public Leadership Workshops for more than 50 leaders representing eight Assembly Constituencies. Additionally, three focused sessions were held for the Bengaluru NavaNirmana Party, engaging over 40 leaders through a one-day workshop.
Each session was thoughtfully curated by experienced practitioners and focused on volunteer engagement, campaign planning, and social media strategy, ensuring participants received relevant and hands-on guidance to strengthen their public leadership journey.
