MICRO-LEVEL PLANNING AND MUNICIPAL WARD

DEVELOPMENT : ISSUES AND POLICY MEASURES

Ph.D., M.A., (Eco.), M.A.(D.S.), M.A. (Socio)

Dr. I. Sundar

Senior Lecturer in Economics, Directorate of Distance Education, Annamalai University

Globalization leads to urbanization Urbanization problems Centralized Municipal level planning Defects and problems of centralized planning Need of micro level ward planning approach

Ward level planning committee and its role.

Role of municipal councilor Ward planning committee should possess:ward councilor, traditional leader, representatives from organized stakeholders group; community representative and the general public.

WARD COMMITTEES

Rules to elect ward committee members Power and functions of ward committee To get better participation from the community to inform about councils decisions Effective communication between council and the committee To communicate and consult committee in respect of development and service plan. Need of independent financial support.

Creation of democrate culture of local participation and accountability

Assessing and approving the budget

Regular feedback on the cashflow of the municipality ward members should empower to ask questions on fund management Monitoring councils activities on a regular basis
Monitoring annual performance Direct advice and support Periodic meeting with councilor

Micro level planning and participatory approach

Participation in the development of municipal micro level

planning has to be seen within this wider context. It serves to fulfill four major functions: Needs orientation: ensuring that people's needs and problems are taken into account. Appropriateness of solutions: using the knowledge and experience of local residents and communities in order to arrive at appropriate and sustainable problem solutions and measures. Community ownership: mobilising local residents' and communities' initiatives and resources, and encouraging cooperation and partnerships between municipal government and residents for implementation and maintenance. Empowerment: Making integrated development planning a public event and a forum for negotiating conflicting interests, finding compromises and common ground and, thereby, creating the basis for increased transparency and accountability of local government towards local residents.

REGULATION OF WARD COMMITTEES

i.

Ward Committees are the organisational framework through which communities in geographical areas can participate in the planning process.

ii.

Stakeholder organizations, which represent certain social, economic, gender or environmental interests have to be registered as "Stakeholder Associations" (at ward level) through which they can participate in the planning process.
The council and the chairperson of the micro level planning committee have to make sure that all relevant groups and all social strata are given opportunity to be adequately represented. Unorganised groups should be represented by "advocates" (e.g. social workers, NGOs, resource persons who have done studies on such groups, etc.). All Ward Committees and Stakeholder Associations should be represented on the "Representative micro level planning committee" which will form a formal link between the municipal government and the public.

iii.

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MICRO LEVEL PLANNING ISSUES

Land use planning Efforts should be to address issue such as traffic

congestion, air pollution An examination of proposed communal facilities Taking economic and legal issues involved in zoning codes, building codes and environmental regulations Use of computer system in preparing micro level ward planning Data on employment creation and business formation. Analysis of behaviour of households interms of location and interaction with other households. Proper solid waste management