Karnataka Speaks

Ward Committees in Mangaluru City Corporation limits

This will improve the Municipal Corporation governance. A corporator, say in Mangalore, represents some: 10,000 population, it could be a few thousand households. Each household may have its own kind of problem. There may be many common issues to be addressed. So it is in the fitness of things that a corporator representing a ward should be per

iodically briefed of the needs and aspirations of the ward and its people. What could be better way than having a ward committee consisting of a cross section of its electorates! Of course the concept, Ward Committee in Municipal Corporation limits, is not a new idea. In 1992, in the 74th Amendment to the Constitution of India, it was proposed to create ward committees. Although the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (KMC) Act, was paased in 2011 for Creating Ward committees in corporations, all the Governments in Karnataka have failed to act in fulfilling this legal requirement. The Karnataka High Court acknowledged the critical importance of Ward Committees in addressing poor civic administration and issued directions to the Karnataka Government, in January 2013, to immediately constitute them in every ward of Bangalore. It was only in March 2014 that Ward Committee Rules were finalised. Bangalore has managed to get its ward committees. http://bbmp.gov.in/details-of-ward-level-committee. Mangalore is still being denied its right to have ward committees. Because of the delay in creating ward committeees in Mangalore, there have been lack of transparency in administration. massive mismanagement in Mangalore city Corporation and heavy losses to public exchequer due to corruption. There are 60 wards, under Mangalore city corporation. There are corporators for each ward. Since the ward comprises of a huge number of voters, there is a need of ward committees. A ward committee is a group of citizens from within the ward, who help strengthen governance and administration in the ward, by their voluntary participation in fixing the problems that ward residents face. Looking at the present situation of corporator without ward committees, we have realised that it is impossible, even for the elected corporator to be in touch with the issues of all voters in the ward, and respond to them quickly. Different public services in the city are also provided by different agencies such as MCC, MUDA, MESCOM and so on, creating further complexity. Since the citizens are not invited to take part in governance, it is natural for them to be unaware of different agencies and their responsibilities. Functions of the Ward Committees

As per the KMC Act, The Ward Committee shall discharge the following functions,
namely:-
(a) prepare and submit Ward Development Scheme to the corporation for allotment of funds;
(b) ensure proper utilization of the funds allotted under ward development scheme in the ward. (c) approve the list of beneficiaries for beneficiary oriented schemes of the Corporation submitted by Area Sabhas falling under that ward;
(d) scrutinize list of ineligible beneficiaries submitted by the Area Sabhas and submit it to the Corporation;
(e) supervise all programmes and schemes being implemented by the Corporation in the ward;
(f) ensure timely collection of taxes, fees and other sums due to the Corporation;
(g) ensure water supply maintenance in the ward and finalize location of new public taps and public wells;
(h) ensure sewerage system maintenance in the ward;
(i) ensure proper solid waste management and sanitation work in the ward and finalize location of new public sanitation units;
(j) ensure maintenance of street lighting in the ward and finalize location of new street lights;
(k) ensure maintenance of parks, open spaces, greening of area in the ward;
(l) ensure afforestation, and implementation of rain water harvesting schemes;
(m) mobilize voluntary labour and donation by way of goods or money for implementation of Ward Development Scheme and various programmes and schemes of Corporation;
(n) inform the Corporation regarding any encroachment of land belonging to the Corporation;
(o) perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Corporation as per its bye-laws. Uses of ward committees

Ward committees are important because of 3 reasons.

1. Contact with all voters of all areas. Since there will be one committee member for every area, she or he will be more accessible to the voters, and can keep in touch with them much constantly.
2. They create a more inclusive political atmosphere. Even those who did not vote for the corporator during elections can feel that there is representation for some of their preferences, through their nominees in ward committees.
3. Ward committee members can solve problems easily. Since the corporator cannot be expected to be informed about technical and knowledge issues of all domains, the knowledge and expertise of ward committee members, can help the corporator perform his/her function in a better way. Mangalore is known for its high literacy rate. With such distinction, it is also obvious that people of mangalore are well informed and would like to take part in the progress of the city. People of Mangalore can be involved in local governance for better Monitoring of water supply, drainage, electricity, sanitation, roads, garbage collection etc. Ward committees can be vigilant and prevent corruption. Mangalore has a unique combination and amalgamation of multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural population. People here speak different languages, including Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, Beary, Bovi, Malayalam, and Marathi. When we have such a diverse population, there is a strong case to reject one man show as it is happening right now. Ward committees which shall contain representatives of people from different backgrounds, will prove to be better and more acceptable. Ward committees are better placed to decide priorities for expenditure in the ward. They can help the Mangalore city corporation in acheiving targets such as malaria control, etc

Thus, it is nobody’s case that all Municipal Corporations need to have ward committees. It will be a major step forward and we need to take it with a lot of responsibility, care and a vision that comprehends short term and long term needs of the Wards of Mangalore City and its citizens. Of course, it goes without saying that these Ward Committees once set up, functions efficiently, effectively and with absolute transparency. Hope, wisdom prevails on the city fathers to act in earnest to set up these Ward Committees in its earliest. THE ONLY PARTY WHICH IS IN FAVOR OF WARD COMMITTEE IS AAM AADMI PARTY