The Hindu : Cost-cutting helps MCH focus on development

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 03, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Cost-cutting helps MCH focus on development

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD May 2. Compared to other civic bodies in the country, which earmark almost 60 per cent of their expenditure for establishment cost, the MCH was spending only 20 per cent on this account, the MCH Commissioner, Chitra Ramachandran, said here on Friday.

Speaking at the inaugural of a consultation jointly organised by the MCH and UN-HABITAT to discuss City Development Strategy-Hyderabad, Ms. Chitra said establishment costs, including salaries for staff, had been reduced considerably over the years and more funds were going towards development.

After listing out the best practices adopted by the corporation, she laid stress on improving sanitary services and garbage disposal. Stating that an estimated Rs.75-crore was spent on sanitation, she said effective ways of garbage disposal were being explored, which were expected to be in place in next few months.

Highlighting the need for upgrading health services, she said the corporation was managing 65 small hospitals, which were not fully equipped. She appreciated the active participation of link volunteers in deferent programmes and said there were no instances of polio in the city following the successful conduct of the Pulse Polio programme.

The presentation by the Commissioner also focussed on the need for deepening and cleaning the Storm Water Drainage network and conservation of water bodies.

Mariko Sato of the UN-HABITAT, in her address, described the strategy as an opportunity to focus on ways of achieving the Millennium Declaration Goal of improving the lives of slum dwellers.

Mary Jane Ortega, Mayor, San Fernando City, Philippines, delivered the keynote address on `San Fernando City Development Strategy'. Other participants in the inaugural of the meet included the Mayor, T. Krishna Reddy, the Deputy Mayor, Subhash Chanderji, and Alison Barrett of the Cities Alliance.

The MCH officials said the strategies discussed during the consultation being held at Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) would be compiled and presented to the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Cost-cutting helps MCH focus on development

CM's monumental shoot

DGP pleads ignorance of NBW issue

Integrated dispensary planned in Secretariat

RR dt. police office shifted

Traffic chaos attributed to autos

Kidnap case solved