Web-based Information Tools and Communication and Participation Strategies

The report summarizes the activities and the action-oriented research work of Pilot Project 4 (PP4) “Web-based Information Tools and Communication and Participation Strategies“. Research objectives were divided in two areas: a) communication issues, namely the development of a Project-Homepage with interactive elements (http://www.sustainable-hyderabad.in/ ) and two documentary films and b) participation issues, namely citizens participation in India as a whole and in Hyderabad in particular. PP4 aims at exploring and evaluating the applicability and appropriateness of scientifically grounded communication and participation methods for use in a megacity like Hyderabad. In the course of the Pilot Project, different research methods were applied: literature studies (desk research), qualitative research methods (interviews, roundtable discussions, case studies) and the action-oriented and explorative performance of some first interventions. India, and especially Hyderabad, shows remarkable affinity with and competences in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), where a special focus within the Project lies. Furthermore as the Tarnaka Ward is an outstanding example for citizen’s engagement in regard to taking over social responsibility and in order to improve participative urban planning as well as governance structures, there has been close collaboration with the Tarnaka Residents Welfare Association. The Tarnaka resident’s communicative and participative activities have been observed, assessed and improved in a joint endeavor between the Megacities Project and the Standing Committee of the Tarnaka Residents Welfare Association (SCOTRWA); thus this outstanding Ward serves as a Case Study for PP4 to obtain a deeper insight about the complex issue of participation in India/ Hyderabad, a masters thesis was written within PP4’s research process, for instance describing the relevant actors for participative planning of water issues in Hyderabad and analysing road blocks on the way toward participation. In the end, the results and findings of PP4 as well as the experimentally implemented Web Tools needed to be drawn together into an consistent Communication and Participation Strategy which can help the overall project activities and even thematically connected planning processes in Hyderabad to find broadly accepted solutions in consensus with all concerned actors and stakeholders.