Points to Remember:
- The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, introduced the concept of urban local governance in India.
- The 12th Schedule lists 18 functions of municipalities.
- These functions cover various aspects of urban life, aiming for efficient and effective urban administration.
- The actual implementation and effectiveness vary across different states and municipalities.
Introduction:
The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 significantly restructured urban local governance in India. It aimed to empower municipalities and enhance their capacity to deliver essential services to urban populations. A crucial aspect of this amendment is the 12th Schedule, which enumerates 18 functional items that municipalities are mandated to perform. These functions are designed to ensure comprehensive urban development and citizen welfare. The success of this amendment hinges on the effective implementation of these functions by the urban bodies across the country.
Body:
1. Urban Planning and Development: This encompasses preparation of master plans, zoning regulations, land use planning, and development control. Effective urban planning is crucial for sustainable growth, preventing haphazard development and ensuring efficient use of land resources. However, challenges remain in terms of implementation, often hampered by bureaucratic hurdles and lack of technical expertise at the local level.
2. Regulation of Building Construction: Municipalities are responsible for regulating building construction activities, ensuring adherence to building codes and safety standards. This includes issuing building permits, inspecting constructions, and enforcing regulations to prevent unsafe structures. Enforcement, however, is often weak, leading to violations and compromising safety standards.
3. Water Supply and Sanitation: Providing safe and adequate drinking water and sanitation facilities is a critical function. This involves managing water resources, constructing and maintaining water supply and sewerage systems, and promoting hygiene practices. Many municipalities struggle with inadequate infrastructure, water scarcity, and efficient waste management systems.
4. Public Health and Sanitation: This includes maintaining public health facilities, implementing sanitation programs, controlling communicable diseases, and promoting public health awareness. Effective public health initiatives are crucial for improving the quality of life in urban areas. However, resource constraints and lack of skilled personnel often hinder the effective implementation of these programs.
5. Solid Waste Management: Efficient solid waste management is essential for maintaining a clean and healthy urban environment. This involves collecting, transporting, processing, and disposing of solid waste in an environmentally sound manner. Many Indian cities face significant challenges in solid waste management, leading to environmental pollution and health hazards.
6. Street Lighting: Providing adequate street lighting enhances public safety and security, particularly during nighttime. Regular maintenance and efficient energy use are important considerations.
7. Urban Transportation: Municipalities play a role in planning and managing urban transportation systems, including roads, public transport, and traffic management. Efficient transportation systems are crucial for reducing congestion and improving mobility. However, many cities struggle with inadequate public transport and traffic congestion.
8. Fire Services: Providing fire protection services is crucial for safeguarding lives and property. This involves maintaining fire stations, training personnel, and responding to fire emergencies.
9. Maintenance of Parks and Gardens: Creating and maintaining green spaces enhances the aesthetic appeal of cities and provides recreational opportunities for citizens.
10. Markets and Slaughterhouses: Regulating and maintaining markets and slaughterhouses is essential for ensuring hygiene and public health.
11. Cemeteries and Crematoria: Managing cemeteries and crematoria is a crucial function, ensuring respectful and efficient management of these facilities.
12. Public Libraries: Providing access to public libraries promotes education and literacy.
13. Cultural Centers: Supporting cultural centers promotes cultural preservation and artistic expression.
14. Promotion of Education: While not directly providing education, municipalities can support educational initiatives and infrastructure.
15. Promotion of Social Justice: Municipalities can play a role in promoting social justice and equality within their jurisdictions.
16. Promotion of Family Welfare: Supporting family welfare programs contributes to the overall well-being of the community.
17. Promotion of Environmental Protection: Protecting the environment is crucial for sustainable urban development. This includes initiatives like afforestation, waste management, and pollution control.
18. Poverty Alleviation: Municipalities can implement programs to alleviate poverty and improve the living conditions of vulnerable populations.
Conclusion:
The 12th Schedule of the 74th Constitutional Amendment outlines a comprehensive set of functions for urban local bodies, aiming for holistic urban development. However, the success of these functions depends on several factors, including adequate funding, skilled personnel, political will, and citizen participation. Many municipalities face challenges in effectively implementing these functions due to resource constraints, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and lack of capacity. A way forward involves strengthening the financial autonomy of municipalities, enhancing their technical capacity through training and skill development, promoting transparency and accountability, and fostering greater citizen participation in local governance. By addressing these challenges, India can move towards achieving sustainable and inclusive urban development, upholding the constitutional values of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity for all its citizens.
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