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Significance of Municipal Affairs Department, GoN

In Indian polity, out of the three tiers of Government in India, the third tier of Government i.e, ULB in Urban areas, has the most potential to make tangible impact on people’s lives since it deals directly with the grassroot level, addressing local level matters. ULBs, in urban areas, is the tier of Government that is closest to the people, where citizens get to interact directly with government and participate in governance. Unfortunately, the significance of ULB is still little-known to Nagas due to non-holding of ULB elections for the past 2 decades.

As these newly elected ULBs embark on their governance journey, evolving and gaining momentum, the onus is now on the Department of Municipal Affairs, Government of Nagaland, to handhold and educate the newly formed Municipal & Town Councils to take on their roles and responsibilities in delivering good Quality of Life in Urban areas as enshrined in the 12th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Towards this, the Department organised the following two training programs for the newly elected councillors during the FY 2024-2025:

  1. Two-day Orientation Program for the ULBs
  2. Exposure trip for the elected councillors

Two-day Orientation Program for the ULBs:

In a landmark effort to equip newly elected councillors and administrators of Nagaland’s Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of their powers and functions, organized a comprehensive two-day orientation programme at two locations; Kohima and Chumoukedima. The orientation covered the following vital topics:

  1. 74th Constitutional Amendment Act and the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023: Roles and responsibilities of ULBs.
  2. Finance Commission Grants: Special focus on the 15th Finance Commission (FC) grants.
  3. Municipal Taxation & Revenue Generation: Exploring own revenue sources and taxation frameworks.
  4. Presentations on flagship initiatives like AMRUT, Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), PMAY (Urban), and ongoing projects supported by the Asian Development Bank.
  5. Joint Consultations for the 16th Finance Commission: Aspirations and proposals from ULBs for incorporation into the memorandum.

The first phase of the orientation programme was held on 6th and 7th August 2024 at Capital Convention Centre, Kohima, and was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland, Shri Neiphiu Rio. This session brought together representatives from 14 ULBs, including Kohima Municipal Council, Mokokchung Municipal Council, Wokha Town Council, and others.

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The second phase was conducted on 9th and 10th August 2024 at Niathu Resort, Chumoukedima, inaugurated by the Hon’ble Advisor for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Shri Zhaleo Rio. This gathering included councillors from 11 ULBs such as Dimapur Municipal Council, East Dimapur Town Council, Niuland Town Council, and others.

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The sessions were led by senior officials from the Directorate of Municipal Affairs, Directorate of Urban Development, Third State Finance Commission, and Finance Department, providing valuable insights into governance, finance, and sustainable development.

11 INSERT UTTARKHAND TOUR PROG WRITE-UP AND PHOTO HERE

To commemorate the victory of putting in place 25 duly elected ULBs, the State Government released One-Time Grant for setting up functional office space

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Furthermore, the Department plays a pivotal role in advocating the visions and aspirations of the ULBs in Nagaland and availing funds from the Centre and State Government. At the backend, the Department ensures that the projects are grounded strictly in adherence to the pre-defined guidelines and framework of the schemes and programs of the Government. During the ensuing Financial Year 2024-25, the 16th Finance Commission visited Nagaland State to witness the state of development as well as to capture the visions and aspirations of the State. Municipal Affairs Department, being the administrative department for all the ULBs in Nagaland, co-ordinated and ultimately submitted a collective memorandum to the 16th FC, covering the goals and aspirations of each of the 39 ULBs in Nagaland.

16th FC VISIT PHOTO

The department’s mission extends beyond immediate challenges, focusing on a long-term vision where ULBs evolve into self-reliant entities, fully capable of functioning as the third tier of government in India’s federal setup. This includes:

  1. Enhancing the technical and administrative capacity of ULBs through targeted training and skill development programs.
  2. Strengthening organizational structures to enable ULBs to generate and manage their own financial resources effectively
  3. Promoting sustainable urban development by guiding ULBs in planning and executing their own socio-economic initiatives.