GOI UNDP Capacity Building for Decentralised Urban Governance Programme

As part of the Capacity Building for Decentralized Urban Governance (CBDUG) Project City Managers’ Association Orissa (CMAO) is assigned to undertake various capacity building programmes in four Urban Local Bodies (ULB) of Orissa. The activities include conducting training, documentation, appraisal of City Development Plan and performance evaluation.

Two training programme were conducted in Puri & Berhampur cities on 19^th and 26^th March 2008 respectively with support from Government of India, UNDP and State Urban Development Agency. The purpose of the workshop was to enable cities elected representatives and officials to understand the strategy to improve its performance. The subject areas of discussion include Innovative Municipal Resource Mobilization, City Development Plan, Municipal Accounting, Property Tax Reforms, Public Private Partnership, Poverty & Livelihoods, City Disaster Management and Urban Environment etc and also provide solutions to make the project more successful.

The meeting was attended by Chairperson, Councilors, senior & grassroots officials of urban local bodies and media etc. The days’ meeting comprised of technical sessions as well as an introductory session and a way forward in which the feed back from various participants were heard in order to understand the status of implementation of projects. At the end city evolved a Municipal Action Plan on improving its Municipal Resource Mobilization Strategy.

The resource person of the training programme includes Mr. Piyush Ranjan Rout, Executive Director, City Managers’ Association Orissa, Mr. Sanjib Mishra, Valuation officer – Housing & Urban Development Department and Mr. Mans Das, Chattered Accountant.

Both Chairperson of Puri & Berhampur Municipality applauded the workshop and assured that their city will improve its image in days to come. In conclusion Mr. Piyush Ranjan Rout, Executive Director, City Managers’ Association Orissa remarked CMAO will continue its support in strengthening Orissa cities performance through innovative measures.