Syllabus
GS Paper II – Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
Context
Recent heavy rains have severely impacted cities across Gujarat, drawing attention to the responses of local governing bodies.
Empowering Urban Local Bodies
Introduction
Recent heavy rains have caused widespread disruption across cities in Gujarat, exposing significant gaps in urban infrastructure and disaster management. The responses of local governing bodies have come under scrutiny, highlighting the challenges they face in managing extreme weather events. This situation underscores the urgent need to empower local bodies by providing them with greater financial autonomy, resources, and decision-making capabilities. Strengthening local governance through capacity building and better implementation of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments is essential to improve their ability to handle crises, deliver public services effectively, and build climate-resilient urban infrastructure for the future.
Role and Structure of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)
- Urban Local Bodies (ULBs):
- ULBs are the grassroots democratic institutions responsible for urban governance in cities.
- Types include Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, and Nagar Panchayats.
- Historical Establishment: The first municipal body in India was set up in Madras in 1687, followed by Bombay and Calcutta.
- Primary Role: ULBs serve as the first point of contact for citizens, providing critical urban services like waste disposal, sanitation, and city planning.
- Pre-Colonial Governance Structures: Indian cities had informal governance systems that adapted based on their functions as trade hubs or religious centers.
- Colonial Governance Reforms:
- The British introduced city-level institutions like improvement trusts to tackle urban problems, particularly sanitation issues.
- In 1882, Lord Ripon, considered the father of local self-government in India, introduced a resolution for democratically elected municipal bodies.
- Government of India Act 1935: This Act recognized the importance of local self-governments and categorized them as state or provincial subjects.
Constitutional Provisions and Administration of ULBs
- Post-Independence Era – 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992: This Act gave constitutional status to ULBs, making them the third tier of government along with the Union and State Governments.
- Constitutional Provisions for ULBs: Under Part IX-A of the Constitution (Articles 243P – 243ZG), the structure, roles, and functions of ULBs are outlined.
- Functional Responsibilities: The 12th Schedule specifies 18 functions assigned to ULBs, covering areas like urban planning, public health, and solid waste management.
- Elections for ULBs: Elections are held every five years for municipal councillors, who are chosen by citizens in local wards.
- Municipal Administration: The mayor (elected directly or indirectly) acts as the ceremonial head, while the real administrative powers lie with the municipal commissioner, a state-appointed bureaucrat.
- Role of Improvement Trusts: Improvement trusts were tasked with improving urban sanitation and fighting epidemics like the plague by widening streets, improving drainage systems, and reducing housing congestion.
Significance of Urban Local Bodies
- Delivering Essential Services: ULBs are responsible for ensuring water supply, managing sewage systems, maintaining drainage, and overseeing solid waste disposal.
- Safeguarding Public Health: They play a key role in safeguarding public health by ensuring efficient waste collection, maintaining city cleanliness, and managing urban healthcare facilities.
- Educational Infrastructure: ULBs contribute to education by establishing and managing schools and other educational institutions in urban areas.
- Social Welfare Programs: ULBs implement social welfare schemes aimed at addressing the needs of vulnerable groups, including women, children, and economically disadvantaged communities.
- Urban Development and Planning: They design and implement urban development plans to guide sustainable city growth and ensure balanced, long-term development.
- Regulating Land Use: ULBs regulate land use to control unplanned urban expansion, protect green spaces, and prevent disorganized urban sprawl.
- Boosting Investment: By providing essential infrastructure and services, ULBs create a favorable environment for businesses and help attract investment to urban areas.
- Handling Urbanization Challenges: ULBs are crucial in managing the impacts of rapid urbanization, such as resolving housing shortages, reducing traffic congestion, and mitigating pollution.
- Addressing Climate Change: ULBs implement initiatives to tackle climate change by promoting sustainable urban practices and improving preparedness for natural disasters.
Steps taken to empower Urban Local Bodies
- 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992:
- Gave constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), establishing them as the third tier of governance and mandating the devolution of powers and responsibilities to ULBs.
- Provided for the creation of ward committees, ensuring citizen participation at the local level.
- Smart Cities Mission:
- Launched to promote sustainable and inclusive urban development by enhancing the infrastructure and governance capabilities of ULBs in selected cities.
- Focuses on decentralized governance and smart solutions to improve urban living.
- AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation): Aims at improving basic urban infrastructure such as water supply, sewage systems, and public transport, while increasing the administrative capacities of ULBs.
- Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U): Focuses on improving urban sanitation by empowering ULBs to implement waste management systems, ensuring cleanliness, and promoting public health.
- Finance Commission Grants:
- Successive Finance Commissions have allocated funds directly to ULBs to boost their financial autonomy and improve fiscal health.
- The 15th Finance Commission recommended significant increased grants for urban local bodies.
- National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM): Aimed at empowering ULBs to implement poverty alleviation programs through self-help groups and urban employment generation schemes.
- Capacity Building Programs: Government initiatives like Capacity Building for Urban Development (CBUD) focus on training municipal staff and elected representatives to strengthen urban governance.
- Municipal Bond Market: Encourages ULBs to raise funds for urban infrastructure projects by issuing municipal bonds, promoting financial independence and better resource management.
- Devolution of Functions under 12th Schedule: Ensures ULBs are empowered with 18 functional areas including urban planning, public health, infrastructure development, and solid waste management for effective governance.
- E-governance Initiatives: Introduced digital governance platforms to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in ULB administration and service delivery.
Issues with Urban Local Bodies
- Limited Political Autonomy: Executive authority in ULBs is often skewed towards the municipal commissioner, reducing the mayor’s influence and leading to administrative overlaps that delay decisions.
- Operational Dependence: Inadequate devolution of powers leaves ULBs heavily dependent on state governments to perform their functions, restricting their operational capacity.
- State Government Interference: State governments exercise considerable control over ULBs, affecting their day-to-day operations and further eroding local autonomy, often resulting in administrative delays, especially during crises.
- Corruption: Corruption hampers the effectiveness of ULBs, leading to a diversion of resources, which undermines urban development and delivery of public services.
- Delayed Municipal Elections: Despite the constitutional mandate for elections every five years, many states delay conducting local body elections, weakening democratic governance at the local level.
- Insufficient Funding: ULBs face severe funding shortages, limiting their capacity to deliver basic services and develop infrastructure. Their primary revenue source, property taxes, is often inadequate, forcing reliance on state allocations.
- Shortage of Skilled Personnel: ULBs often lack the necessary qualified staff and technical expertise to address complex urban challenges. The ratio of planners to the urban population is low, with just one planner per 75,000 people, and only 5,000 town planners exist in India, whereas an estimated 300,000 will be required by 2031.
Way forward
- Need for Financial Autonomy: Granting greater financial independence to ULBs would empower them to generate their own revenue, reducing reliance on state government allocations.
- Market-Driven Revenue Generation: ULBs should be allowed to raise funds through market-based mechanisms, such as issuing municipal bonds and securities, or by imposing user fees like congestion charges and parking fees.
- Diverse Financial Strategies: Implementing innovative financial models with multiple sources of revenue would give ULBs the flexibility and creativity to tackle urban challenges effectively.
- Participatory Budgeting: Involving citizens in budget decisions through participatory budgeting would enable city residents to have a direct say in how their tax contributions are utilized for public services and infrastructure.
- Enhancing Technical Expertise: ULBs need to upgrade technical capabilities by recruiting qualified professionals and experts, ensuring better service delivery and more efficient management of urban infrastructure.
- Strengthening State Capacity: Increasing the administrative capacity of ULBs by bringing in skilled personnel would enhance their ability to address urban issues and ensure the smooth functioning of local governance.
Conclusion
The recent heavy rains in Gujarat have underscored the critical role of local governing bodies in managing urban crises and delivering essential services. While the responses of these bodies reveal both strengths and weaknesses, it is evident that empowering Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) is crucial for effective disaster management and urban resilience. By providing ULBs with greater financial autonomy, technical expertise, and decision-making authority, the government can enhance their capacity to respond proactively to emergencies. Strengthening local governance will not only improve immediate responses to disasters but also foster sustainable urban development and better quality of life for citizens in the long run.
Reference: IE
Related PYQ
‘‘The states in India seem reluctant to empower urban local bodies both functionally as well as financially.’’ Comment. [UPSC CSE – 2023 Mains]
Practice Question
Critically examine the significance of empowering Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the context of sustainable urban development in India. (250 words)
Guidelines to Answer
- Introduction:
- Define Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and their role in urban governance.
- State the importance of sustainable urban development.
- Body:
- Significance of Empowerment:
- Discuss the benefits of financial autonomy for ULBs, such as generating local revenue and reducing dependency on state funds.
- Explain the importance of technical expertise in improving urban planning and service delivery.
- Challenges Faced:
- Briefly highlight the challenges ULBs face, such as political interference and funding shortages.
- Significance of Empowerment:
- Conclusion:
- Summarize the need for empowering ULBs to foster sustainable urban development.
- Suggest recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of ULBs.