Accountability of Urban Local Governments in India

Urbanisation in India has been so fast that during the last four decades the urban population has quadrupled. The burgeoning urban population brings with it several new challenges which the Urban Local Governments (ULGs) have to face. There is, therefore, the need to revamp the structure of ULGs and redefine their functions, duties and powers in the changed urban scenario. The inclusion of several activities relating to poverty eradication and welfare in the functions of ULG calls for a fresh urgency to study urban administration in a new light. The need for the ULGs to re-energise themselves to face the ever-increasing complex urban challenges efficiently, coming out of the rigid, outdated, inflexible working culture and deteriorating administrative standards is clearly underlined in the present work. It has been emphasized that there is inescapable need to improve the quality of life in smaller towns to avoid the rural push and to prevent the urban pull since certain larger urban areas cannot afford to grow any more due to infrastructure deficiency, growing congestion due to rapid population growth coupled with increasing traffic and other problems. In the changed socio-political situation in towns and cities of India, there is an urgent need for reform of ULGs to restructure the official machinery as well as political organ in the ULGs so as to function as active partners in the development of urban areas. The book enables the stakeholders of urban development to understand the need and plan to revitalize the ULGs to meet the new challenges imposed by the rapid urbanization and social and economic changes in urban areas. Some valuable reforms to fulfill the constitutional obligations ordained on ULGs by the constitution (74 Amendment) Act, 1992 have been suggested in the book. It also deals with the need for capacity-building, decentralised planning, simplification of procedures, privatisation of certain municipal services to improve the quality and reduce the cost of service. The present book would prove very useful to planners, policymakers, and government executives concerned with the urban development and social welfare. In addition, students and teachers of public administration, political science and economics will find it an ideal reference book on the topic concerned.