Composition
Municipal Corporations are established in big cities according to the provisions made in the Acts enacted by the State Legislatures. The Councillors of Municipal Corporations are elected for 5 years. The elected Councillors elect one of them as Mayor annually. The Mayor is known as the first citizen of the city. The 74th Constitutional Amendment has provided for reservation of not less than 1/3rd of the total seats for women.
There is also a
provision of reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections in proportion to their
population. Out of these reserved seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,
one-third would be reserved for women belonging to these communities. In the event of dissolution of Municipal Corporation, the elections will be held within six
months. There is an official post of Municipal Commissioner, who is the Chief Executive Officer and is appointed by the State government. In case of Union Territories
like Delhi it is done by the Central government.
Municipal Corporation
Functions of the Municipal Corporations
The main functions of the Municipal Corporation are as follows:
1. Health and Sanitation: Responsible for cleanliness of the city, disposal of garbage; maintenance of hospitals and dispensaries; promoting and conducting vaccination drives; checking of adulteration etc.
2. Electricity and Water Supply: Provision and maintenance of street lights, supply of electricity, supply of safe drinking water; construction of infrastructure and providing facilities for water supply, maintenance of water tankers etc.
3. Educational: Establishment of primary schools, provision of mid-day meals and other facilities for the children.
4. Public works: Construction, maintenance and naming of roads; framing
rules for the constructions of houses, markets, restaurants and hotels; removing of encroachments and demolition of dangerous buildings.
5. Miscellaneous functions: Maintaining record of Births & Deaths; provision and
maintenance of cremation grounds/burial grounds, night shelters; making arrangements of scooter & taxi stands and public facilities.
(a) Entertainment: Provision of parks, auditoriums etc.;
(b) Cultural: Organizing music, dramas, painting and other art shows; and
activities like maintaince of libraries and museums;
(c) Sports Activities: Provision of play grounds for various games and also
arranging sports competitions & tournaments;
(d) Welfare Services: Setting up and maintaining Community halls; running
public distribution system; implementing family welfare schemes and also
schemes for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes &
backward classes.
Main Functions of Mayor
Mayor is the elected as the head of the Municipal Corporation and performs the following important functions:
- presides over the meetings of the Corporation and maintains decorum and discipline in the meetings;
- acts as a link between Councillors and the State government;
- receives foreign dignitaries visiting the city.
Like Panchayati Raj System, Muncipal System also requires funds for the development
and welfare activities in its area. Provision is made in the Municipal Act for
generating
the required funds. Some of the sources of income are as follows:
the required funds. Some of the sources of income are as follows:
Income from taxes: Municipal Corporation imposes taxes on various items such
as – house tax, entertainment tax, tax on hoardings and advertisements,
registration fees, tax on building plans etc.
Other fees and charges: These include water supply charges, electricity charges,
sewer charges, license fee from shop keepers, and toll tax and octoroi duty.
Grants-in-Aid: State government and Union government provide grants-in-aid
for various projects and programmes related to development.
Income from Rents: Corporations rent out the properties and get rent for various
shops, kiosks, community centres, Barat Ghars and various sites for fairs,
marriages or other exhibitions.
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