Janaagraha’s mission is to transform quality of life in India’s cities and towns. The term ‘quality of life’ as defined by Janaagraha has two dimensions. The first dimension is the ‘quality of urban infrastructure and services,’ that is, housing, power, water, sanitation, roads, drains, public transport, etc. The second dimension is the ‘quality of citizenship’-the role that urban citizens can play by participating in civic issues.  Janaagraha works with citizens and governments to catalyse active citizenship in city neighbourhoods, and to support implementation of systemic reforms in city governance across Urban Planning and Design, Urban Capacities and Resources, Empowered and Legitimate Political Representation, and Transparency, Accountability and Participation.

Pioneered hyperlocal citizen participation in India. Drafted Nagara Raj Bill under JnNURM, pioneered ‘Area Sabhas’. Strong foray into civic technology with I Change My City, Swachhata apps. Due to persistent efforts of citizens, Rs. 120 crore has been allocated to the ward committees in BBMP’s budget for 2021-22, for the first time. The Ward committees identify and monitor specific works undertaken to strengthen the quality of footpaths, roads (potholes) and borewells. Working with c. 3,000 slums in Odisha on capacity building of communities.

Bala Janaagraha has engaged over 3,80,000 children across 600+ schools in 28 cities.

Janaagraha is focused on improving Ward Committee functioning across BBMP, and steers the annual MyCityMyBudget efforts in the city. Janaagraha is now scaling up the efforts to realise participatory budgeting and constitutionally mandated ward committees across Karnataka.

As part of Bala Janaagraha we have in the last sixteen years engaged over 3,80,000 students across 600+ schools in 28 cities. As part of this program, we deliver several strands of work focusing on practical civics in a city, and convene a project activity. ‘Our City, Our Challenge’ is an open civic project that provides students from Classes 6th and 12th from any school from any city in the country an opportunity to engage with a civic issue or any other issue that affects them, their school or their community.

Other areas such as municipal finance management, community policing, etc., are also focused in Bengaluru.