A symposium was organized upon problems and possible solution for local Self-governance by Urban Bodies in Jharkhand at Amritnagar Hazaribagh by NBJK and BFW, Germany. President Girija Satish welcomed the participants and initiated the discussion with important role of urban local bodies for development as per 74th constitutional amendment.
He called for reform in functioning of State Finance Commission as well as of UlBs and advocated for discretionary grant to address priorities smoothly. Drawing attention towards loopholes like lack of proper skill among UlB staffs, their irregular salary, unprofessional approach and compulsion to work at officers’ residence instead of genuine work place, he suggested for a rational structure of municipal tax in accordance with the services available and a fixed proportion of all central-state revenue to support UlBs. There should be a realistic annual plan about sanitation, water supply, drainage, road and others by such bodies with a free hand to outsource major cleanliness work and to ensure primary-secondary garbage disposal points including dustbins, he opined.
Gautam Sagar Rana RJD state president raised the issues like encroachment of old water structures, irregularities in appointment of municipal staffs along with need of suitable structure at public places. He advised NBJK to support sanitation work in Hazaribagh town and for a people’s memorandum to Deputy Commissioner about civic problems.
Shamsher Alam urged for a defined role of UlBs and demanded to ban heart throbbing DJ sounds. Prof. RS Ambashtha expressed deep concern over possession of government land by influential people and suggested to question people’s representatives. He requested Jharkhand government to review hike of municipal tax.
Noorjahan Begam of Matwari, Abha Devi of Khirgaon, Rehana Khatoon of PTC Chowk, Rajkumar of Mali Tola, Anjali Singh of Okni also shared their distress upon poor civic facilities and liquor shops in their areas. They demanded action by the municipality.
Shankar Rana, Coordinator, lok Samiti anchored the dais and concluded with vote of thanks while program manager Rajiv Singh and his deputy Md. Nayeem supported the event.