The Times of India 22.09.2009
Urban bodies to have help of support groups
PATNA: Come October and about three dozen urban local bodies (ULBs), which cater to the main towns of Bihar, would have the services of support groups at their disposal.
These groups, consisting of varying number of members in accordance with the work load on a given ULB, would have experts having technical know-how to implement and manage projects meant for urban development.
British government’s department for international development (DFID) would provide consultants who would be members of these support groups and the cost of this service would be borne by the DFID itself.
“We have singed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for availing the services of support groups which would assist officials manning ULBs,” urban development department principal secretary Dipak Kumar said.
He said that the need of having this service was felt as the work of ULBs have increased manifold and apart from routine work of providing civic amenities to the residents, these bodies are also expected to carry out various projects of urban development which would usher in a very positive change in the towns of Bihar. “With existing manpower not having the expertize to carry out such works, presence of support groups would smoothen things and ensure timely implementation of various development projects,” Kumar added.
Support groups apart, the urban development department has also initiated the process to rope in the services of management degree holders in the form of city managers for all the 124 ULBs (municipal corporations, nagar parishads and nagar panchayats) of the state.
To be appointed on contract basis, these city managers would get a consolidated salary of Rs 20,000 per month and their selection would be made through a written test to be held in December this year.
“At present, the post of executive officers of most of the ULBs is held by officials of the administrative services and presence of city managers at their disposal would help them in managing projects of urban development in a more methodical manner,” he said.
Kumar said that their main work would be management of projects meant for delivering quality civic amenities to residents and for development of urban centres. “We are expecting to finalize the selection process by year end after which these managers would be deputed in all the 124 ULBs of the state,” Kumar added.
These groups, consisting of varying number of members in accordance with the work load on a given ULB, would have experts having technical know-how to implement and manage projects meant for urban development.
British government’s department for international development (DFID) would provide consultants who would be members of these support groups and the cost of this service would be borne by the DFID itself.
“We have singed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for availing the services of support groups which would assist officials manning ULBs,” urban development department principal secretary Dipak Kumar said.
He said that the need of having this service was felt as the work of ULBs have increased manifold and apart from routine work of providing civic amenities to the residents, these bodies are also expected to carry out various projects of urban development which would usher in a very positive change in the towns of Bihar. “With existing manpower not having the expertize to carry out such works, presence of support groups would smoothen things and ensure timely implementation of various development projects,” Kumar added.
Support groups apart, the urban development department has also initiated the process to rope in the services of management degree holders in the form of city managers for all the 124 ULBs (municipal corporations, nagar parishads and nagar panchayats) of the state.
To be appointed on contract basis, these city managers would get a consolidated salary of Rs 20,000 per month and their selection would be made through a written test to be held in December this year.
“At present, the post of executive officers of most of the ULBs is held by officials of the administrative services and presence of city managers at their disposal would help them in managing projects of urban development in a more methodical manner,” he said.
Kumar said that their main work would be management of projects meant for delivering quality civic amenities to residents and for development of urban centres. “We are expecting to finalize the selection process by year end after which these managers would be deputed in all the 124 ULBs of the state,” Kumar added.
