Union Minister for Power, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Sh Manohar Lal, attended the National Conference of Chairpersons of Urban Local Bodies held in Manesar, Gurugram on Friday as the Chief Guest. In his address, the Minister emphasized the crucial role such conferences play in capacity building for urban governance.
He said that this is the first time a conference of urban local body representatives has been organized on such a large scale, marking a significant milestone. He further advocated for the regular organization of similar events across the country, highlighting the importance of utilizing online platforms to ensure broader participation.
“Wider engagement will empower more people to contribute and help transform the face of our cities,” he said. Sh Manohar Lal stated that, similar to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas, urban local bodies should also conduct formal House sessions, chaired by a person elected in the manner of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha.
This, he said, would help establish a more transparent and accountable system of governance. The Minister urged public representatives from across the country to actively contribute to strengthening urban local bodies.
He also encouraged the implementation of best practices showcased during the conference, especially by those urban bodies that demonstrated exemplary work, to further improve the quality of life and infrastructure in cities.
Urban Development should go hand-in-hand with environmental protection
Union Minister Sh Manohar Lal emphasized that urban development must go hand in hand with environmental protection. He stated that while pursuing progressive initiatives, it is essential to keep environmental sustainability at the forefront.
The Minister highlighted the need to improve traffic systems and simultaneously plan for e-mobility solutions. He noted that while metro rail services began in India in 2002 much later than in the United States, where metros have existed for over 150 years, India has made remarkable progress.
Today, metro networks span 1,000 kilometers across 21 cities, which is comparable to the extent of metro systems in the U.S. He added that there are plans to expand this network even further in the future.
Cities to be rebuilt through the Urban Challenge Fund
Union Minister Sh Manohar Lal stated that cities will be redeveloped through the Central Government’s Urban Challenge Fund, under which Rs 1 lakh crore will be allocated. He emphasized that to improve urban living conditions; best practices from leading cities around the world are being adopted.
As part of this effort, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has recently been signed with Spain to facilitate the exchange of successful urban development models between the two countries. The Minister highlighted that urbanization in India is accelerating rapidly.
In response, both governments and municipal bodies must increase their pace of action. He stressed the need for proper workforce training and the efficient use of time and resources to meet future challenges. Citing data, he said that urbanization in India was at 20 percent in 1970, has risen to 36 percent today, and is projected to reach 50 percent by 2047.
Need to raise awareness among common citizens
Union Minister Sh Manohar Lal stated that while efforts are being made to sensitize public representatives through such events, it is equally important to raise awareness among common citizens. He emphasized that an informed and aware public leads to greater transparency in the system, resulting in more effective and efficient development work.
The Minister also underlined the need for making urban local bodies self-reliant. He said that while these bodies receive a fixed amount of funding from the central and state governments, achieving true self-reliance must go hand-in-hand with ensuring transparency and accountability in their functioning.
Focus on capacity and skill building
Union Minister Sh Manohar Lal emphasized the importance of skill development for employees and officers working in municipal bodies. He encouraged the use of the iGOT Karmayogi platform (https://www.igotkarmayogi.gov.in) for continuous learning and capacity building. So far, 21 states have signed MoUs to adopt the platform.
With over 2,000 courses available, individuals can access a wide range of online training modules to enhance their skills and improve performance in their respective roles. On this occasion, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Sh Harivansh, Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Minister Sh Kailash Vijayvargiya, Union Minister of State Rao Inderjit Singh, Secretary General Rajya Sabha Sh P.C. Modi, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh Harvinder Kalyan, Deputy Speaker Dr. Krishan Lal Middha, and other dignitaries were present.