The State of Governance: Delhi Citizen Handbook 2006 is an administrative and financial analysis of departments, agencies, boards and issues of the Delhi State Government that hopes to further citizens’ understanding of the workings of the government. The Handbook also makes constructive and bold recommendations for improving the quality and effectiveness of governance. It recommends policy reforms based on the concept of new public management, the principle of subsidiarity, government provision and private production, expanding choice and competition, ward level management and result oriented management.

More than 30 departments, boards and agencies were selected for this study. The first issue taken up was Delhi’s unique experiment in participatory governance, the Bhagidari scheme. Through appropriate departments, general public services like education, water, power, fire service, irrigation and flood control are evaluated in detail. Delhi’s labour welfare schemes and employment exchanges along with land and development management of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) are put under the microscope.

Delhi state’s role in cultural issues like languages, archaeology and archives as well as in religion through the Haj Committee, Gurudwara Election Office, and the Waqf Board were thoroughly analysed. It was felt that not only government’s expenditures but also its efforts to raise revenues though myriad taxes and levies raise concerns about the efficiency and transparency of the processes. Overall, the 2006 Handbook covers a wide range of issues and ABCDs that affect everyday life of ordinary citizens of the city.

The mammoth task of compiling credible information was completed by young students who took up the challenge of going through strange corridors of the state departments and dig information that went into the compilation of this simple yet powerful study. The researchers who made all these possible refute the charge that the nation’s youth has become apathetic and cynical. Instead of morchas and dharnas, in this information age they toiled to generate knowledge and understanding so that we may have informed debates and decisions. We hope that their labour would not go waste.