The Hindu : BMP model to be replicated in other local bodies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

BMP model to be replicated in other local bodies

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Aug. 19. To give a sound financial status and ensure that efficient management systems are adopted in the five city corporations of the State and seven city municipal councils (CMCs) surrounding Bangalore, the State Government will soon sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with these civic bodies.

This was announced by the Chief Minister, S.M.Krishna, on Monday at a review meeting and joint presentation made by the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) and the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) on the new Fund Based Accounting System (FBAS) adopted by the BMP.

The terms and conditions of the MoUs will be the same as that signed with the BMP in July last year. It may be noted that the BMP-State Government MoU seeks to support Bangalore's development by resource mobilisation. It also creates a framework that links financial and performance parameters of the BMP to Government financial assistance of over Rs. 250 crore and facilitation to borrow Rs. 627 crore.

Appreciating the BATF's role in improving the quality of governance in the administration, Mr. Krishna said that the mindset of government employees should be changed to make the quality of governance "visible."

He asked the BMP Commissioner, M.R.Sreenivas Murthy, to initiate measures to train the CMC employees in better governance.

The employees could be trained to work on computers and on governance techniques at the Administrative Training Institute (ATI), Mysore, he said.

The corporations of Belgaum, Mangalore, Hubli-Dharwad, Mysore, and Gulbarga, CMCs, zilla panchayats, and town panchayats should introduce computerisation within a year, he added.

Earlier, the Chief Secretary, A.Ravindra, directed the Urban Development Department to introduce FBAS in all local bodies of the State.

In the first phase, it could be introduced in the seven CMCs around Bangalore later in the five city corporations.

He wanted the commissioners of the five corporations to explore the possibility of working in co-ordination with the private sector.

The BATF in Bangalore was doing a good job in improving the quality of administration, he said.

The BATF Chairman and Infosys CEO, Nandan Nilekani, the BATF member, Ramesh Ramanathan, and Mr. Sreenivas Murthy made a joint presentation on FBAS.

They said that the new system had received nation-wide appreciation.

It had not only helped in improved tax collection but had also brought in qualitative, quantitative, and structural changes in the BMP's administration, Mr. Murthy said.

Mr. Nilekani promised co-operation in introducing FBAS in other local bodies.

Commissioners and presidents of various local bodies in the State and representatives of the Urban Development Ministry, besides ministers and BATF members, attended the presentation meet.

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