Improving City Government 1958

Abstract

The Seminar on “ Improving City Government” was a welcome sequel to the earlier one on “The Pattern of Rural Government”-. The country is alive with new ideas probing the many problems that a developing democracy must face and answer. The objectives are clear but the means call for continual experimentation. Intimate and thorough discussion at an informed level helps in this process of discovery. Looked at thus, the Bangalore Seminar on City Government achieved considerable success. The participants had wide experience of city administration. The proceedings were throughout lively and often extremely stimulating. The concern latterly shown for the prevailing situation in our cities, and recognition of the urgent necessity of improvement, are welcome. Both Governmental and non-official bodies have studied' different aspects of these subjects. Parliament and many State Legislatures have enacted fresh legislation designed to provide cities with an administration suited to the needs. Nevertheless, doubts •and arguments about the right means for securing better government persist. Debate is, of course, necessary in a dynamic situation. But it must not militate against the reasonable exploitation of existing institutions for the common good. The Seminar has brought out with a high degree of accord the adequacy and appropriateness of the principal tools of our City Governments today. One hopes th at these proceedings will help towards a better appreciation of the needs of the situation. There are also fresh lines of action suggested, both as regards the governmental machinery and the enlisting o f public participation. The latter is as vital as the former, but still relatively untried in our cities. But the time is new ripe for initiating programmes in this direction. The success of the Seminar is largely due to the interest Prof. V.K.N. Menon, Director of the I.I.P.A., evinced during the many months of preparation. Shri B.D. Raheja, also of the Institute, prepared valuable background papers, after a great deal of study and collation, and was of immense help to me throughout. To him my special thanks are due. I must record my appreciation of the excellent secretarial assistance provided by the Institute during and after the Seminar.