People Power
www.loksattamovement.org
DEMOCRACY…
• Citizen is sovereign
• There must a tangible link between:
– Vote
– Taxes
– Authority
Public good
Services
Accountability
STATE OF AFFAIRS TODAY…
Life of a citizen
• Waits endlessly for basic services delivery
• Lack of quality in services
• Runs around government offices
• Citizens have become slaves
WHAT IS DECENTRALIZATION?
• Common Understanding
– Hierarchical Approach
• The right understanding
– Citizen should be the focus
in governance process
UNION GOVT.
Local Governments
Citizen
STATE GOVT.
State Governments
LOCAL GOVT.
Union Governments
Current Situation-Views on City Government
Urban Poor
Special
Interest
Groups
City
Bureaucrat
Urban Middle
Class
State
Bureaucrat
Community
Based Orgns
ParaStatal
Agency
NGO TypeB
City Politician
NGO TypeA
State
Politician
Infrast’ure
Players
National
Politician
Multi/ Bilateral
Agencies
Business
Community
Opinion
Leaders
Media
Current Situation-Views on City Government
•Constant vulnerability
•Anchor of city services
•Want legal housing
•Forced often to seek
political patronage
Urban Poor
Special
Interest
Groups
•Minimal authority
•High expectations
•HR challenges
•Too much political
interference
•Too many agencies
•2-year tenure
City
Bureaucrat
Urban Middle
Class
State
Bureaucrat
Community
Based Orgns
ParaStatal
Agency
NGO TypeB
City Politician
NGO TypeA
State Politician
•Minimal understanding of the
Infrast’ure
system
Investor
•Made to feel political
irrelevant
•High level of agitation, no
avenues to engage
•Poor often seen in
adversarial terms
•Low opinion of political
representatives
National
Politician
Multi/ Bilateral
Agencies
Business
Community
Opinion
Leaders
Media
•No authority to make
decisions
•Complex system
•Too much interference
from higher political
players
•Move on to next level
•Look out for myself
Current Situation-Views on City Government
•Aggressive approach to
procure rights for marginal
communities
•Adversarial attitude
towards business and
development
Urban Poor
Special
Interest
Groups
•Too many changes
required
•Too many legacy
institutions
•No possibility of
dramatic change
•Torn about
decentralisation
City
Bureaucrat
Urban Middle
Class
State
Bureaucrat
Community
Based Orgns
ParaStatal
Agency
NGO TypeB
City Politician
NGO TypeA
State Politician
Infrast’ure
Investor
•Demands for
infrastructure
•“End justifies the
means”
•Less patience for
long-term reform
National
Politician
Multi/ Bilateral
Agencies
Business
Community
Opinion
Leaders
Media
•Frustrated by urban
management
•Decentralisation only to
my level
•Opportunities for
strengthening base
Current Situation-Views on City Government
•Mixed knowledge of
urban issues
•Difficulties in maintaining
grassroot energies
•Challenges to network,
scale, sustain
Urban Poor
Special
Interest
Groups
City
Bureaucrat
Urban Middle
Class
•Issue-based advocacy
(environment/ heritage/
disabled etc.)
•Often removed from core
reform discussions
•Mixed approach to other
stakeholders
State
Bureaucrat
Community
Based Orgns
ParaStatal
Agency
NGO TypeB
City Politician
NGO TypeA
State Politician
Infrast’ure
Players
•Focus on service
options and pricing
•Partial ability to
influence reforms
•Weak grassroot/
public support
National
Politician
Multi/ Bilateral
Agencies
Business
Community
Opinion
Leaders
Media
•Mixed knowledge of urban
challenges
•Focus on visible changes
e.g. “keep my street clean”
•Incomplete solutions for
change
74TH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Creation of Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC)
–
–
Composition as per 243EZ of 74th CAA
•
•
2/3 Elected Reps
1/3 technical experts, NGOs etc
Role
•
Planner/Coordinator/ Moderator/Regulator/ Data Mgr
Empowerment of Urban Local Bodies with respect to
–
–
–
–
The functions and taxation powers
Arrangements for revenue sharing
Providing adequate representation for the weaker sections
Ensuring regular conduct of elections
Decentralization of powers within Urban Local Bodies
–
Creation of Ward Committees
74TH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
12th Schedule brings the following functions under Urban Local Bodies
1. Urban planning including town planning.
2. Regulation of land-use and construction of buildings.
3. Planning for economic and social development.
4. Roads and bridges.
5. Water supply for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes.
6. Public health, sanitation conservancy and solid waste management.
7. Fire services.
8. Urban forestry, protection of the environment and promotion of ecological aspects.
9. Safeguarding the interests of weaker sections of society,including the handicapped and mentally retarded.
10. Slum improvement and upgradation.
11. Urban poverty alleviation.
12. Provision of urban amenities and facilities such as parks, gardens, playgrounds.
13. Promotion of cultural, educational and aesthetic aspects.
14. Burials and burial grounds; cremations, cremation grounds and electric crematoriums.
15. Cattle pounds; prevention of cruelty to animals.
16. Vital statistics including registration of births and deaths.
17. Public amenities including street lighting, parking lots, bus stops and public conveniences.
18. Regulation of slaughter houses and tanneries.
Additional following functions can be assigned to Urban Local Bodies
– Land improvement, implementation of land reforms, land consolidation
– Small scale industries, including food processing industries
– Non-conventional energy sources
CASE FOR COMPREHENSIVE URBAN REFORMS
CASE FOR COMPREHENSIVE URBAN REFORMS
17 lakh reps
72 crores
RURAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT
227 reps
1.5 crores
MUMBAI
155 times further away
1 rep for 425 people
1 rep for 66,000 people
WHERE ARE
OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES?
• No powers to ensure that municipal projects in their wards are
completed on time
• Corporators (Citizens representatives) are mere figureheads
compared to the municipal officials (bureaucrats)
• Corporators have very little say in the decisions of the municipal
corporation
• Corporators are accountable to the people but have not authority
• Municipal officials (bureaucrats) have the executive authority but
are not accountable to the citizens
• No correlation between vote and public good, authority and
accountability
HOW CAN WE CHANGE
THIS?
MULTIPLE ACTIONS NEEDED FOR URBAN REFORMS
No.
Factor
1
Effective decentralisation of government functions
2
Efficient Financial Management Systems
3
Defining and monitoring Service Levels
4
Adequate provision of well-located low-income housing
5
Relevant and rapid infrastructure provisioning
6
Efficient collaboration between different agencies
7
Institutionalized Citizens' participation
8
Uniform demarcation of administrative jurisdictions
9
City planning recognizing economic/environmental factors
10
GIS for Spatial Information Management
11
Guaranteed Land Title System
12
Effective Zoning. Land-Conversion and Enforcement Policies
13
Efficient Land Market Assessment process
14
Periodic regional economic mapping
15
Regularly updated and centralized Land Records System
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU NATIONAL URBAN RENEWAL MISSION
”JNNURM”
“The aim is to encourage reforms and fast track planned development of
identified cities.”
“Focus is to be on efficiency in urban infrastructure and service delivery
mechanisms, community participation and accountability of ULBs
towards citizens.”
• Across 63 Cities
– Total requirement of funds over 7 years: 120536 crores
– Annual requirement of funds: 17219.5 crores
REFORMS OF JNNURM
Mandatory Reforms at the Level of ULBs
(a) Modern accrual-based double entry system of accounting
(b) System of e-governance
(c) Reform of property tax with GIS
(d) Levy of reasonable user charges by ULBs
(e) Earmarking budgets for basic services to the urban poor
(f) Provision of basic services to the urban poor at affordable prices
REFORMS OF JNNURM
Mandatory Reforms at the Level of States
(a) Implementation of 74th Constitutional Amendment
(b) Bring Stamp Duty down to no more than 5 % within next 7 years
(c) Enactment of the Public Disclosure Law
(d) Enactment of Nagar Raj Bill creating Area Sabhas
(e) Associating elected ULBs with “city planning function”
REFORMS OF JNNURM
Optional Reforms (common to States and ULBs)
(a)
Streamline the approval process for construction
(b)
Simplification of procedures to convert land from agricultural to non-agricultural purposes.
(c)
Introduction of Property Title Certification System
(d)
20-25 % of developed land in all housing projects for EWS and LIG category.
(e)
Computerized process for registration of land and property.
(f )
Make rain-water harvesting mandatory in all buildings
(g)
Reuse of recycled water
(h)
Administrative and structural reforms
(i)
Encouraging public private partnership
(j)
Repeal of ULCRA
(k)
Reform of Rent Control Laws
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
– RTI Act
– Public Disclosure Bill
– Nagar Raj Bill
– Citizen’s Charters with mechanism for enforcement
MODEL NAGAR RAJ BILL
Salient Features
• A Bill to make the governance process citizen centric
Local
Governments
Citizen
State
Governments
Union Governments
• Creation of empowered executive Ward committees at the electoral ward level
• Creation of Area Sabha- whose footprint is equal to one/ two polling booths
WARD COMMITTEE AND AREA SABHA STRUCTURE
WC
Elected Corporator as
Chairperson plus AS
reps
Area
Sabha rep
ALM,
NGO,
Comm.,
etc.
Avg pop: 66000
Area
Sabha rep
Area
Sabha rep
Area
Sabha rep
Area
Sabha rep
Area Sabha – same as Polling booth
Avg Area Sabha – 35 per WC
Avg Population - 1700
WHY DO WE NEED AN AREA SABHA?
One representative /425 people One representative /66000 people!!
BENEFITS OF AN AREA SABHA
 Permanent, institutionalized structure for community participation in
governance making citizen accountable
 Right to recall an Area Sabha Representative makes the Area Sabha
and consequently Ward Committee accountable to citizens
 Meetings of Area Sabha are open to public, thereby bringing
transparency in decision making
 Convergence opportunities: Voter List, BPL list cleaned up
 Heterogeneous composition has positive social implications for
community building around good governance in a given area
 Area Sabha can initiate developmental projects of their choice under
JNNURM – true community empowerment
LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENTS
Ward Committee at Electoral Ward Level
• Functions
–
–
–
–
–
Street lighting
Local school, anganwadis, health posts, ration shops
Road maintenance, garbage clearance, water supply, sewerage and drainage
Identifying projects/services for implementation at ward level
The ward committees are empowered to implement all governmental and
various developmental programmes in the ward
– All the local problems should be solved at this level
• Funds
– Local taxes / big portion
– General funds / based on the wards developmental index
• Functionaries
– All the functionaries based on functions will be under the Ward Committee
LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENTS
Ward Committee at Electoral Ward Level
• Benefits
– Empowered local self government
– Executive authority for local self governance
– Area Sabha representation
– Appropriate Funds, Functions and Functionaries
– Closer proximity for citizens to local government
CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE
– Lack of capacity to utilize these spaces and participate meaningfully
– Communities Participation Fund (CPF) established to create capacities in
communities to effectively engage and contribute in improving their living
environment
– Catalyze the process of community participation by creating a ‘Participation
Incubator’
– Allowing communities to experience the process of collective decision-making for
themselves and taking full accountability for these decisions on themselves
– All projects funded from the Community Participation Fund (CPF) will have
community contribution of minimum of 10% of project cost and 5% for projects for
poor
• Area Sabhas will get up to Rs.10 lakh per project from this fund, provided the project
proposal is endorsed by a minimum of 51 % of voters in the polling station
OVERVIEW OF THE NEW URBAN GOVERNANCE MODEL
AGENDA FOR URBAN REFORMS
3-tier Structure
CORPORATOR /
COUNCILLOR
AREA SABHA
REPRESENTATIVE
Mayor
Municipal Corp.
ELECTORAL WARD
COMMITTEE
Corporator as Chairperson
WARD FOOTPRINT
AREA
SABHA
EVERY REGISTERED VOTER
IN
THE POLLING STATION
POLLING STATION
FOOTPRINT
STRENGTHENING THE HANDS OF OUR ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES
• Corporators will be at the center of all the municipal activities in
his ward
• Hands of corporators will be strengthened by the support of the
citizens
• Local municipal authorities will work in tandem with the public
representative and citizens of the ward
• Municipal authorities will be answerable to the public
representatives regarding municipal activities in the ward
• Direct correlation between vote and public good, authority and
accountability
LOK SATTA MOVEMENT
• Lok Satta Movement is a non-partisan people’s movement for
bringing fundamental transformation in Indian governance.
• Completely democratic
• 10-50 citizens in village/area
• Taluka/ sub-district/ ward federated groups
• District chapters
• State Chapter
• National Coordination Group
LOK SATTA MOVEMENT
People Power
www.loksattamovement.org
loksatta.maharashtrachapter@gmail.com
FLOWCHART FOR AREA SABHA REPRESENTATIVE (ASR) ELECTIONS
Appoint Election Authority for the city
(This authority shall be of credible
people)
Decision to conduct elections for
Area Sabha Representatives
T
Form a city wise core group to
organize Lok Satta Movement
facilitated ASR’s elections
Identify by name and number the
Wards/Divisions where Lok Satta
Movement has sizable presence
Designate by name and number
the polling booths/stations where
Lok Satta Movement will facilitate
the conduct ASR’s elections
Prepare budget for each
polling booth/station
Election Authority to prescribe a
set of criteria to qualify as ASRs
Election Authority to Prepare a Nomination
Form/Application Form for inviting applications
from candidates for ASR elections
Arrange Voters list for each
designated polling booth/station
Designate by name and number
the wards/divisions where Lok
Satta Movement will facilitate the
conduct of ASR’s elections
Identify by name and number the polling
booths/stations where Lok Satta
Movement has sizable presence
Appoint Election Authority for each Assembly
Constituency under which the designated
polling booth/stations falls. (This authority shall
be of credible people)
C
M
FLOWCHART FOR AREA SABHA REPRESENTATIVE (ASR) ELECTIONS
M
Designate a coordinator and a few (10)
volunteers for each polling booths/stations for
conducting the ASR’s elections
Handover two copies of respective voters list
(EP) for the polling booth/station to respective
polling booth/station coordinator
T
Hand over one set of copy of the
respective voters list(s) to polling center
coordinator
Arrange orientation program for all polling
booth/station coordinators, all polling center
coordinators, volunteers, core group
participants, office support volunteer group,
election authority group and others who may
be interested from Lok Satta Movement
The polling booth coordinator and
volunteers to identify buildings/houses as
per the voters list
Identify and Designate Polling Center for
group of polling booths/stations. (The
election commission polling centers shall
be appropriate)
Designate a coordinator and a few (5)
volunteers for each polling center for
supervising and assist the ASR’s elections
Identify/designate people from these orientation
programs who are capable of addressing public
meetings and explaining the Area Sabha/ Ward
Committee concept, Lok Satta Movement’s role,
need for ASR’s election
Create an orientation module to impart training to
designated coordinators and volunteers. (For
their understanding of Ward Committee and Area
Sabha elections and for their understanding of
the process as to how to conduct ASR’s elections
including Lok Satta Movement’s role)
FLOWCHART FOR AREA SABHA REPRESENTATIVE (ASR) ELECTIONS
C
Election Authority for respective assembly
constituency shall prepare schedule of
elections
Press release / Press conference for Media to
know the reason, process, polling booth/stations,
criteria for qualifying as ASRs, location of polling
center and schedule where Lok Satta Movement
would facilitate the conduct of ASR’s elections
Identify a place for conducting public meeting for
each polling booth/station
Prepare a schedule for public meeting in each
polling booth/station area. Ideally these meetings
shall be in the evenings OR on Saturdays,
Sundays and on Holidays
Prepare a general handbill (one side in local language, one side in English OR Urdu OR
Hindi) explaining Area Sabha/Ward Committee concept, Nagar Raj Bill, Lok Satta
Movement’s commitment to ensuring local self government through decentralization,
community participation, and empowerment of citizen, devolution, and
transparency/accountability. While Lok Satta Movement is advocating that Nagar Raj Bill
shall be soon passed by State govt. but without waiting for that wishes to facilitate formation
of Area Sabhas and election of two ASRs (one male/one female) per polling booth/station
and if Movement comes to power in Municipal Corporation will actually empower these
elected area sabhas even if State govt has not passed the Nagar Raj Bill
Prepare specific public meetings invite hand bill (one side in local
language one side in English OR Urdu OR Hindi) giving date, time
and venue to understand Area Sabha/Ward Committee Concept
Polling booth/stations coordinators and volunteers to distribute
(ONLY TWO DAYS BEFORE THE PROPOSE MEETINGS)
general handbill along with specific public invite to every house
hold in the designated polling booth/station. A personal request
to be made to voters to attend these public meetings
P
FLOWCHART FOR AREA SABHA REPRESENTATIVE (ASR) ELECTIONS
P
Polling booth/station coordinator may invite Candidates on
phone to be present at a designated place for scrutiny of their
nominations/application forms v/s criteria
Press release / Press conference for Media to know
the time, date and venue of these public meetings
Assembly election authority shall scrutinize the
nominations/application forms v/s criteria and declare
the result in presence of the candidates
Oriented and designated = coordinators/core group
participants/volunteers to address these meetings and
explain Area Sabha/Ward Committee concepts, Lok Satta
Movement’s role, need for ASR’s election
Arrange orientation program for all polling
booth/station candidates
Prepare specific invite handbill (one side in local language
one side in English OR Urdu OR Hindi for voters to fill up the
Nomination Forms/Application Forms for ASRs election. The
last date for filing may be clearly indicated
Polling booth/station coordinators and volunteers to
distribute general handbill along with specific invite
handbill and Nomination Form/Application to each
household in their respective polling booth/station area
Press release / Press conference for Media to know
names, qualification and other details (as per the
criteria) of the candidates for each polling
booth/station and giving detailed schedule for the
ASRs election including dates/time and venues. The
day for voting shall be Sunday OR Holiday
Q
FLOWCHART FOR AREA SABHA REPRESENTATIVE (ASR) ELECTIONS
Q
Prepare a form for MIS record of counting
Prepare specific handbill giving names, qualification
and other details (as per the criteria) of the
candidates for each polling booth/station and giving
detailed schedule for the ASRs election including
date/time and venue
Candidates and their volunteers to
distribute these handbills to every
household in their respective polling
booth/station area
Prepare ballot boxes
Prepare two set (one for male and one
for female) of ballot papers specific to
each of the polling booth/station
Voter to cast two votes one for male and
one for female candidate of their choice.
Candidates to visit house to
house for canvassing in their
favour. A week’s time shall be
given for this activity
After the polling, on the same day and in front of the
candidates and a representative of the election authority,
the polling booth/station coordinator shall count the votes
and declare the winners. An MIS record form may be filled
and to be signed by every candidate, election authority
representative and the polling booth/station coordinator
Press release / Press conference for Media to know
names, qualification and other details (as per the criteria)
of the winners (one male and one female) for each polling
booth/station
Meeting of all winners as well as losers with leaders of the
organization
END
Functions to be performed by Municipalities/ Ward
Committees/ Area Sabhas
No
1
Note: These are based on the list of functions provided in Schedule XII (article 243W) of the
Constitution, as per the 74th Constitutional Amendment
Item
Municipality
Ward Committee
Area Sabha
Urban planning
including town
planning
.. Prepare city plans in
coordination with the
MPC/DPC of the region
b. Integrate the Ward Plans
into the City Plan
.. Develop medium-term
financial plans consistent
with the plans
.. Develop annual city
budgets consistent with the
medium-term financial plans
a.Prepare ward plans in
coordination with city &
regional plans
a. Discuss the Area’s
planning needs as part
of the Master Plan for
the region and the city
b.Integrate Area Sabha
needs into Ward Plans
b. Submit Area’s
planning requirements to
the WC
c. Develop Annual Ward
Budgets consistent with
these plans, and with the
city’s financial plans
c. Review the Ward
Plans and the City plans
d.Ensure that ward
budgets and city
budgets are consistent
with their plans
2
Regulation of
land-use and
construction of
buildings.
a.(Large set of regulations
on land-use and
construction)
a. Provide all
administrative support to
AS in zoning and landuse mgmt
b.Receive and process all
applications for building
construction
c.Receive all appeals on
land-use change
decisions of AS, and
resolve them
3
Planning for
economic and
social
development.
a. Work with agencies
outside Municipality on
collection, and
dissemination of economic
and social indicators
b. Maintain key economic
and social indicators for the
municipality on regular
basis
c Undertake systematic
and organised street
numbering, in coordination
with external agencies
a. Have a Ward
Information and Statistics
Committee to track
economic activity in the
Ward
.
Undertake systematic
and organised street
numbering, in
coordination with the
municipality
a.Enforce the zoning
and land-use
parameters defined in
the city and ward plans
b. Receive and resolve
applications for change
in land use in AS
jurisdiction
a. Provide information
support to the WC on
collection of necessary
economic and social
information
b. Undertake
systematic and
organised street
numbering, in
coordination with the
WC
4
Roads and
bridges.
a. Survey, technical
feasibility, road alignment,
and formulation of road
development projects.
b. Approval, allocation and
sanction of funds of roads
covering more than one
block including District
roads.
c. Acquiring land,
assessment and of grant of
compensation.
d. Awarding contracts,
procurement of material /
equipment for construction
of roads and bridges.
e. Monitoring the
specifications of road
/bridges and supervision of
the quality of works.
a. Survey, technical
feasibility, approval,
allocation and sanction of
funds.
g.Monitoring and
supervision of quality of
works.
b.Annual repairs and
maintenance of ward
roads, culverts and
bridges.
h. Assist the WC in the
preparation of Ward
Infrastructure Index.
c.Approval, allocation and
sanction of funds for
improvement and
maintenance of Ward
roads.
d.Monitoring and
supervision of the quality
of works and reporting
progress.
e.Ward Infrastructure
Committee to maintain
Ward Infrastructure Index
in manner prescribed
f.
A
5
Water supply for
domestic,
industrial and
commercial
purposes.
.Assessing city’s water
supply needs on short,
medium and long term
basis.
b.Formulation of major
water supply schemes.
c.Technical appraisal and
approval to the schemes
proposed by the WCs.
d. Awarding contracts for
the execution of major
schemes and enforcing
Service Level Agreements.
EBudgetary allocations
formulae to be based on
Ward Infrastructure Index
.. Developing annual
water requirements for
various ward needs.
f. Providing administrative
assistance to AS
g. Procuring and
compiling reports on
water service levels,
complaints and repairs
H
. . Identifying need for
water schemes and
locations.
i. Reporting progress on
water supply schemes.
j. Monitoring water
supply service levels,
complaints and repairs.
6
Public health,
sanitation
conservancy and
solid waste
management
a. Planning through the health
committees
b.To coordinate communicable
diseases Programme (Eg.TB, Leprosy)
with the State
c. To coordinate, construction and
maintenance and supervision of
Primary Health Centres (PHCs)
d. Periodic conduction of
Epidemiological surveys
e. To construct and manage drainage
and sewerage systems in the city
a. Assist in supervision /
maintenance of sub-centres and
deployment of field staff
b. Mobilising & organizing people
for health, family planning &
immunization camps.
c. Assist inspection/ Assessment of
quality of health inputs and services.
c. Chlorination tanks & spraying
of etc
d.To prepare Ward SWM Plans,
consultation with AS
d. Reporting of out-break of
epidemics.
e.To award SWM contracts
f.To monitor and review SWM
contracts
g. Prepare city SWM plans, including
adequate provision for safe disposal of
SWM
g Prepare budgets for street
cleaning and public spaces in
consultation with AS
h. Prepare long-term SWM strategy
for the city, in coordination with MPC
and DPC
h. To award contracts for street
cleaning
j. Policy documents for construction of
public toilets
of roads, drainage etc.) in the
Area
b. To Organize health family welfare
camps and conduct demonstration /
exhibition on health, family welfare
and sanitation.
f. To set aside budgets for street and
public spaces
i. Review city SWM contracts and
provide support to WC in contract
formulation, execution and monitoring
a. Upkeep of sanitation (cleaning
i. Prepare plans for sufficient public
toilets in the ward in consultation
with AS
j.Award contracts for construction
and maintenance of public toilets, in
consultation with municipality
e. To assist I coordinate
emergence (floods etc.)
Medical Relief Services
f. Support local community-based
SWM composting solutions, in
collaboration with Municipal SWM
dept
g.Supervise SWM contracts
street cleaning contracts
h. Identify locations for public
toilets and submit AS plans to WC
. .Supervise maintenance of
public toilets
7
Fire services
a. To extinguish fire and
protect life and property when
fires occur
b. To ensure sufficient levels
of Fire Service infrastructure
in the city
8
Urban forestry,
protection of the
environment and
promotion of
ecological
aspects
a. Reclamation of waste
lands, promotion of social
forestry and maintenance of
open spaces
b. Establishment and
maintenance of nurseries for
plants, vegetables and trees
and promotion of greenery
c. Organization of flowershows and promotion of
flower-growing as a civic
culture
d. Promotion of measures for
abatement of all forms of
pollution;
a. Compile a list of all urban
forestry and environmental
assets in the Ward
b. Prepare detailed plans to
conserve and protect
environmental assets,in
consultation with AS
c. Work with the
municipality to integrate
these plans into the
municipal budget
d. Prevent hazardous
impact on environmental
assets
e. Promote of measures for
abatement of all forms of
pollution
a. Prepare a list of all
urban forestry and
environmental assets in
the Area
b. Identify their
environmental health
c. Suggest measures for
the conservation and
protection of such assets
d. Monitor hazardous
impact on environmental
assets, and report to WC
9
Safeguarding
the interests of
weaker sections
of society,
including the
handicapped
and mentally
retarded
a.Provide all support to
the WC for identification
of weaker sections
b.Coordinate with all
concerned to procure
relief for weaker sections
c. Set aside appropriate
funds in municipality
budget
d. Preparation of lists of
Identification of
disabled persons/ street
children/ unassisted
aged/ beggars/
juveniles and
coordination with the
municipality to procure
assistance for their
rehabilitation.
e. Identification of
disabled persons/
street children/
unassisted aged/
beggars/ juveniles
and coordination with
the WC for their
rehabilitation.
10
Slum
improvement and
upgradation.
A Compile city-wide slum
information, including
service levels
b. Prepare medium-term
plans to complete slum
upgradation
c. Prepare action plans for
provision of sufficient stock
of legitimate low-income
housing in the city
d.Coordinate with various
agencies involved in slum
identification, upgradation
and services
E Prepare a list of all
slums in the Ward
k. Prepare a list of all
slums in the AS
f. Establish the legal
veracity of each slum for
provision of public
services
l. Prepare slum
upgradation plans for
each slum, with
community members in
the concerned slums
g. Compile slum
upgradation plans in
coordination with AS
h.Prepare Ward Budgets
to include allocations for
slum upgradation
i. Release contracts for
slum upgradation work
j. Make payments based
on AS monitoring
m.Work with WC to
ensure budgetary
allocation for slum
upgradation works
n. Monitor quality of
slum upgradation
works
11
Urban poverty
alleviation
PPreparation of plan for poverty
alleviation programmes at
municipality level.
SScrutiny and consolidation of WC
plans for Poverty Alleviation
Programmes
RRelease of funds to Banks for
subsidy adjustment.
CCoordination with other
departments / agencies
DDevelopment of training
infrastructure
PProcurement and supply of quality
assets / machinery / equipments for
beneficiary schemes.
AAssist in extending technical
assistance for planning at WC
level.
h. Supervision and review of
implementation of different Poverty
Alleviation Programmes.
i. Monitoring and supervision of the
progress of the programmes.
a. Assist the AS in providing
technical and managerial
assistance for implementation of
schemes.
b. Implement schemes at WC
level
c. Collection and distribution of
data regarding development and
management at the WC level.
d. Assist in the evaluation of
schemes.
e. Preparation of plans at the
WC level
f. Review the plans prepared by
the AS and accord technical
approval and assistance
g.Integrate other Poverty
Alleviation programmes
a.Identification of beneficiaries
for various government
schemes
b. Implementation of
employment generation
programmes
c.Inform the WC and
municipality about any misuse
of assets, grant and loan by
the beneficiaries.
d.To assist IP for the
distribution of identity cards
e. To ensure proper utilization
of any funds allocated for
poverty programmes from the
municipality or external
sources
12
Provision of urban
amenities and
facilities such as
parks, gardens
playgrounds
a.Assist the WC in the
discharge of their
responsibility
e.
b.Compile city-wide urban
amenities information
f. Prepare ward budgets
based on AS inputs or
urban amenities
c Prepare medium-term
plans for urban amenities in
consultation with WCs,
MPC and DPC
d.Provide budgetary
support for urban amenities
Assist to AS in the
discharge of their
responsibility.
a.Submit AS plans for
upgradation and
maintenance of urban
amenities
b. Keep all common
property of local nature
in good condition.
c. Ensure they are not
encroached upon or
converted to uses not in
the Interest of the
community.
13
Promotion of
cultural,
educational and
aesthetic
aspects
a. Promotion of civic
education, adult education,
social education and nonformal education
. Promotion of cultural
activities including music,
physical education, sports
and theatres and
infrastructure
AAdvancement of science
and technology in urban life
PPublication of municipal
journals, periodicals and
souvenirs
.Organization, establishment
and maintenance of art
galleries and botanical or
zoological collections
CConservation and
maintenance of monuments
and places of historical,
artistic and other importance
Construction.
EEstablishment, maintenance
or contribution to the
maintenance of public
libraries, museums, reading
rooms etc.
14
15
Constructing and
maintaining burial grounds
and cremation grounds
Burials and burial
grounds;
cremations,
cremation
grounds and
electrical
crematoriums
a.
Cattle pounds;
prevention of
cruelty to animals.
a.Establish and maintain
cattle ponds
a.Assist the municipality
in the discharge of their
responsibility.
a.Inform the WC and
municipality of deaths
in the AS
a. Assist to AS in the
discharge of their
responsibility.
b.Monitor stray animals
in AS
a. Register all births and
deaths in the municipality
a. Register all births and
deaths in the Ward
b. Maintain key economic
and social indicators for the
municipality on regular
basis
c.
b.Ward Information and
Statistics Committee to
compile information on
Ward
a. Support the WC in
registering births and
deaths
b.Acquiring, maintaining,
changing and regulating
places for the disposal of
the dead
b. Ensure the prevention of
cruelty to animals
c.Undertake appropriate
measures to limit stray
animals
16
Vital statistics
including
registration of
births and deaths.
c. Work with
appropriate agencies to
treat stray dogs on a
regular basis
17
Public amenities
including street
lighting, parking
lots, bus stops
and public
conveniences
a Communication systems
beyond construction and
maintenance of roads:
footpaths, pedestrian
pathways, transportation
terminals, both for
passengers and goods,
bridges, over-bridges,
subways, ferries, and
inland water transport
system;
b. Provide transport system
accessories including
traffic engineering
schemes, street furniture,
parking areas, and bus
stops;
a.
Compile list of
street lighting, parking
lots, street furniture, bus
stops and public
conveniences in the
ward, with the assistance
of the AS
b.Prepare plans for
creation and
maintenance of such
amenities
c Coordinate with the
municipality for the
provision of such
amenities
d. Coordinate with the
AS for the monitoring
and maintenance of such
amenities
e. Prepare list of street
lights, parking lots,
street furniture, bus
stops and public
conveniences in the
Area
f. Provide assistance to
the WC in developing
plans for creation and
maintenance of such
amenities
g.Monitor contracts to
maintain such
amenities
18
Regulation of
slaughter houses
and tanneries
a.Regulate the functioning
of slaughter houses and
tanneries
b.Prepare a list of all
slaughter houses and
tanneries in the ward
c. Assist the AS in its
activities
d. Report any violations
to the municipality
e. Monitor slaughter
houses and tanneries
for environmental
impact and ethical
practices
f.
ADDITIONAL RELEVANT FUNCTIONS FROM 243G
NOTE: The items listed below are included in the list of items to be devolved to Rural Local
Governments as per Schedule XI (Art 243G), but are not included in the list for urban
decentralization as per Schedule XII (Art 243W). However, they merit serious discussion
and possible inclusion into a Municipalities’ Act. Once a decision is taken on whether they
are devolved to the municipality, appropriate functional distribution could be identified,
across the 3 tiers of Municipality/ Ward Committee/ Area Sabha
Land improvement,
implementation of
land reforms, land
consolidation
Small scale
industries,
including food
processing
industries
Non-conventional
energy sources