• Urban Poverty Alleviation and Urban Governance

  • A Capacity Building Conference of Women Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Chairpersons on Urban Poverty Alleviation and Urban Governance was held on 9-10 August 2008 at Aurangabad.

    The Conference was sponsored by the National Centre on Urban Governance (NRUCP), Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies (RCUES) of the All India Institute of Locai Self-Government (AIILSG), Mumbai and Aurangabad Muncipal Corporation.

    Mr. Alkesh Sharma, I.A.S., National Project Coordinator, GOI/UNDP.The Conference was well represented by women mayors and deputy mayors, chairpersons of committees, top officials from the centre and the state and academics.

    The Inaugural Session commenced with the Welcome Address by Mr. Dilip Band, IAS Municipal Commissioner, Aurangabad Municipal Corporation. Theme presentation was made by Dr. Sneha Palnitkar, Director,RCEUS.

    A Special Address was delivered by Mr. Alkesh Sharma, IAS, National Project Co-coordinator, Government of India - UNDP Project 'National Strategy for Urban Poor,' Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India, New Delhi.

    Mr. Vijaya Kishor Rathatkar, Hon'ble Mayor, Aurangabad, gave the Inaugural Address. There were elevens sessions held on various themes during the two-day conference. The themes were: Preparing Municipal Woman leadership for Urban Poverty Alleviation; Urban Governance and Urban Poverty Alleviation; Woman Related Acts, Income creating Activities and Role of Municipal Leadership; P-Budgeting for Urban Poverty Alleviation and Gender Budgeting, Geographical Information System and Urban Poverty Alleviation; Sex Selection- the Practice, its Causes and Implications and Role of Elected Representatives, Resources Mobilization for Cities; Urban Poverty Alleviation and Basic Services to the Urban Poor; "Urban Poverty Alleviation - Concepts of Government Schemes and Micro fìnance and Issues; Global Warming and Climate Change; A special session was devoted to a presentation by Kolkatta Municipal Corporation on Urban Poverty Alleviation.

    Dr. Shubha Raul, Hon'ble Mayor, Mumbai.Among the Hon'ble women mayors who were present were : Mrs. Errabelli Swarna (Warangal,A.P.); Dr. Shubha Raul(Mumbai); Mrs.Jyotiben Vachani (Junagadh, Gujarat); Mrs.Anjani P. Bhoir (Navi Mumbai); Mrs.Kalpanaben Bhatt (Ahmedabad); MS. Soni Meher (Ujjain, M.P.); Mrs. Sandhyaben G. Vyas (Rajkot); Mrs.Mayatai Ivonate (Nagpur); MS. Rina Shah (Bhavnagar,Gujarat);and Mrs. Leelabai Ashar (Ulhasnagar)

    The Conference was well attended by mayors, officials and academics. Among them were: Mr. Balkrishna Shukla, Mayor (Vadodara); Mr.Mahadev Sangle, IAS, Additional Muncipal Commissioner (Mumbai); Dr. Mukesh Mathur, Professor, NIUA, Delhi; Mrs. Jyoti Pandya, Chief Community Development Offìcer, MCGM; Adv. Mrs_Suniti Govitrikar, Associate Faculty, AIILSG, Pune; Mr. P.C. Pisolkar, Chief Auditor, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai; Mr. Satyajit Shinde, Research Staff, RCUES; Mrs. Anuja Gulati, State Programme Offìcer, United Nations Population Fund, Mumbai; Dr. Sushma Shende, SNEHA, Mumbai; Dr.Deepali Prabhat, CSSC, Mumbai; Dr. ShailaVirmani, RCUES; and Mr. Mukesh Kanaskar, Programme Co-ordinator, AIILSG, Regional Centre, Pune.

    Women Delegates at Aurangabad Conference.The Concluding Session was devoted to panel discussion on "JNNURM, Reforms Agenda, Urban Poverty and Role of Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Chairpersons. The session was anchored by Dr. Sneha Palnitkar, Director, RCUES.