Urban News

UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil, in July, had directed the Chandigarh Administration to transfer departments to the Municipal Corporation under the provisions of the 12th schedule of the 74th Constitutional amendment, which are mandatory for the states and Union Territories. The departments that will be transferred in the first phase are those handling primary education, primary health, open spaces and gardens.

In a meeting of senior officials of the Administration and MC, it was decided that MC will have to recruit around 400 teachers and a number of doctors to take care of the primary schools and healthcare centres. MC will be creating its own cadre for recruitment of staff working in the departments under its jurisdiction. Though initially for a year, the Administration would transfer the schools and health centres with their existing staff, after one year, the MC will have to make its own arrangements. “The staff will also be given the option to either stay in Municipal Corporation’s cadre or return to the Administration. It will be a kind of deputation for such staff members,” said a senior UT official.

Besides the other arrangements, a directorate of school education and a directorate of health will have to be created by MC.

While the Administration will transfer seven schools to the MC, the latter will have to get around 18 more schools. 

The MC would require additional budget for the departments. Officials state that along with the functions that are being transferred, the funds will also be given to the MC. The contracts for the laying of roads, etc that have already been allotted would continue and no changes on those accounts will be introduced by the civic body.

An MC official said there is shortage of staff in the civic body for the current functions, too. There is an immediate need for recruitment of more staff and creation of additional posts. In the first phase of transfer, the MC will have to recruit staff such as maintenance staff, gardeners and the like.