Financing municipal services-a case study of Mahabdi and Manikganj Pourashavas

Abstract

Urban governance is a wcll thought-out and well ~o-ordma\ed managcmcnt by the ,tat~ regarding all urban issues ~nd problems IDr the overall development of \lrban arcas and urban life, Good Clrbangovernance implies that there should be adcquate commllment, transparcncy, ~ccountab1l1(Y,co-ordination, cfficient parti~lpa\lOn and control in running the affairs of urban areas. rhe ulnmate responsibility for urban governance rests primarily with the urban local government I.e. Pourashava. The basic objectives of establi,hing pourasbava~ arc 10 serve fundamental utilities and eivie amenities to \lrban areas. Considering the importance of poul1lsbava<;in serving IIrb~n dweller, go\'ernmcm promulgated special ordinance for pourashavas in 1977 and latcr on in ]997 some amcndment, were incorporated ",itb a view to make the poura~havas more active, mOl'e u,eful as well as morc capable institution~. They bavc becn cnriched with statutory <;Latll<; con8tit\lled CInder law and functions us a\ltonomoCls <;cll~govcrning institutions for ensuring better i'tmctioning. Bnt almost every poura,hava has failed to provide service> according to the target dl.le to ,evere depcndcncy on the central govenlment li,r (',nancial support. The study made an attempt to inve>tig~te the cause, behind the pale ,ce~ario of ~i\'lC services. Ailer analyzing the facts and finding>, >ome loophole, were pointed om. The~e loopholes originated from bolh private ,ector i.e, dwellers of the poura,hava and rublie sector i,e, officials of the pourasha,a. In this thesis initiatives were adopted to addre~s tbose loophole, and effective nleasur~, were tried to recommend to get rid of. In ca,e of private ~ector the basic loopholes are lack of know ledge of thc pol.lra-dwellers about ci vic CUltUre8and responsibilitics, They do not like to pay taxes regularly rather than they try to manage the poura official, by impo,ing local inf1l.lenceor adopting unfair mean:., On the other hand, loopholes gcncrated from public oedor include ncgllgenee of duties ~lld re~pon~lbiI1l1e, in many e~,es, lack of ,kills, com'ption, poor knowlcdgebase. nepotism, Cbairman', intention to appease local p~op]~ lhrough undcrasscssment and tax w"iving etc. wllh a view to incrcase popularity and make chair secured and durablc, XVI At presen! all pDura:.ha~a:. are dcpenden! on grants and donatiDns of the central gDvernment. As a result it has becmne ~eT)' diJ11Cllltto adDpt [my eff~Cll,e plan or devc1Dpmen! progr.lm. They are lDjust wait for the central government's pre8CTiptiom and instructions. which is never e'-pceted for any dynamic and usclill alllonomOlls institution. Because these prescriptilms and instruction, ~re yeT)' often formulated by our development purtncr, who arc in many instances more enthu,iastic to reflect their own intere,ts and willings rath~r than to consider our actual needs for moving towards the path of self-reliant. So, thcl'e is urgency to lind way, for strengthemng pourashavas financially. The study reveal> Lhal~til1there are huge Dpportunilies for the pouraslwva5 10 be financially ,olven! by alleviating the prevailing fund crisis, For thl\ the highlighted loophole:. of both private and public sector:. should be addressed in a more organized way. SimultaneOIJ:.ly, lhe poura-assets need to be re-asseS'iod.lfthe inhabitants and the oJ11cials become aware of theIr own responsibilities and perform all tho doables sincerely, it ",ill not be VCI'Ydifficult for all pourU5havas to be financially :.olven( and provide required services to Lheinhabitants according to (heIr aspirations.