V. Ravichandar
, Bangalore Agenda Task Force
Focus: Civil Service, City Management
Topics: Sequencing Reform, Making services accessible
Keywords: technical assistance, urban reform, public service delivery, self-assessment scheme, tax reform, political capital, reform sequencing
Interviewer(s): Michael Woldemariam
Country of Reform: India
Location: Bangalore, India
Date: Sat Jun 19 2010
Abstract
V. Ravichandar recounts his time serving as a member of the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) from 2000 to 2004. He describes urban issues within India, how he secured his position with BATF, and various city initiatives in which he played a large role. The BATF worked to improve living conditions for the lower middle and middle classes. Amongst other things, it reformed the public toilet system and transportation. Ravichandar also helped to implement the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), a government program that allocated 12 billion dollars of grant funding to 63 Indian cities. He speaks extensively about the presidency of S.M. Krishna and how crucial he was in providing political support for the BATF. Ravichandar emphasizes the importance of political capital, how it only declines after an individual is elected, and why it is critical to enact change quickly and early on in a presidency before political capital runs out.
Full Interview
Contact Innovations for Successful Societies for a copy of the audio file.
Full Profile
V. Ravichandar served as a member of the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) from 2000 to 2004. He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) and an M.B.A. from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM). Prior to working with BATF, Ravichandar was a consultant with MICO-Bosch. In 1988, he founded Feedback Consulting, a research and consulting company that assesses business opportunities in India. Since leaving his post with BATF, he has been associated with HR Trust, a not-for-profit organization that seeks to enable human capital in India. At the time of this interview, Ravichandar still worked for Feedback Consulting
