6th State Finance Commission should suggest ways for making ULBs financially strong: CS
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Chief secretary Anand Bardhan has requested the sixth State Finance Commission to come up with practical, timely and implementable suggestions for enhancing resources, potential and capabilities of local urban bodies and district Panchayats to make them financially strong.
The CS gave the suggestion during his meeting with the chairman of the Sixth Finance Commission of the State, N Ravishankar and the members of the Commission on Thursday. In the meeting, detailed discussion regarding the financial self-reliance, administrative efficiency of the urban bodies (Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat) and District Panchayats were held. Discussions occurred on making these bodies more efficient and developing them as effective contributors to the economy of the State.
The meeting also discussed the challenges currently faced by local bodies and district Panchayats and noted that despite numerous opportunities, these bodies are unable to achieve the desired level of financial self-reliance. This was attributed to the need for necessary changes in administrative and policy trends. It was pointed out in the meeting that limited local revenue sources, traditional sluggish work styles, lack of effective and clear bylaws, lack of effective land management and a highly politically centric approach are all factors that are preventing the desired results.
The Commission stated that urban local bodies require effective interventions for land management, revenue generation bylaws, work culture expertise, adaptation of innovations and effective implementation. It also noted that the current allocation for district planning is allocation-based, and needs to be transformed into need-and-outcome-based.
Commission members PS Jangpangi and MC Joshi were present on the occasion. Secretary Nitesh Jha, Dilip Jawalkar and R Rajesh Kumar and other officers also attended the meeting.
