To enable the urban local bodies to function as a local government in its true sense and to make them responsible and accountable to the citizens, the State Government has been constantly reviewing and amending laws.
The characteristic features or municipal governance in West Bengal are as follows:
In the State, the concept of a Cabinet form of Local Self Government in urban was introduced well before the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, in the form of Chairman -in-Council. In the bigger municipalities, responsibilities for looking after different departments are distributed amongst the members to ensure smooth functioning of different departs in the interest of the general citizens.
In order to bring clarity in the Financial Management System of the urban local bodies the formation of Municipal Accounts Committee in each urban local body has been made mandatory, preferably with the Councilors from opposition parties.
To ensure active involvement of majority of Councilors in municipal administration and to further decentralize the development process, formation of Standing Committees in the municipalities has been made mandatory. All the municipal bodies have already formed such Committees. These are being headed by a Councillor to be nominated by Chairman of the ULB.
In the past the concept of government remained out of reach of the general people. Keeping this fact in mind three vital goals have been fixed viz.
to devolve more power including financial powers to the local govts. for enabling them to combat the problem relating to service delivery effectively;
to uplift of the status of the local bodies from mere service provider to the status of a Local Self Government with changed mind set. in order to prepare the local bodies to play their role in mitigating the socio-economic problems in a positive manner; and to ensure active participation of general mass in the local governance.
People's participation in municipal planning and development has been ensured through formation of Ward Committees in each Ward of all Urban Local Bodies irrespective of their population size. The Ward Committee Rules have also been framed in such a way so as to ensure involvement of the members of the Ward Committees in overall municipal administration and resource mobilization. To make such committees more effective and functional, fund has already been allotted under KUSP for construction of 87 Ward offices in different ULBs under KMA. Further allotment of fund will also be made for construction of 100 more Ward offices. So far, out of 2895 Wards, Ward Committees have been constituted in 1956 Wards.
Participation of poor families in planning and implementation of slum level Basic Infrastructure Development as well as Socio-Economic Development has been ensured through formation of Commons Development Society. CDs Community Based Structures have also been involved by the municipalities in providing civic services like conservancy services, maintenance of street light, providing mid-day meal to the school children etc.
