Information Exchange and Dissemination
On urban issues, best city management practices, technologies, cross country management experiences through publications (newsletters, manuals, books), workshops, seminars and audiovisual media.
Specific Objectives
- Share information and experiences in city management practices
- To access international information on developing technologies and best management practices
- Have a centralized clearing-house of information on new technologies and management practices
- Disseminate success stories of urban management practices in Gujarat.
Activities
- Networking with national and international bodies working in the field of urban management
- Documentation of best management practices in cities of Gujarat.
- Maintaining a database of experts / services and latest technologies available in the country and abroad
- Build a comprehensive library on urban affairs and make available the hardware for local bodies.
- Dissemination of information through publications, (i.e. newsletters, manuals, books etc.) audio-visual media, multimedia etc.
- Database of success stories on urban governance.
- Provide first hand exposure to the urban managers to the best management practices within and outside the country.
Training/Capacity building for professional development
For professional development through workshops, seminars, short training programs and overseas training.
CMAG facilitates training of city managers through other Indian and international training institutions in the following manner:
Specific Objectives
- Continued professional development for persons in urban management positions
- To strengthen quality of city govt. through professional management
- Provide knowledge and skills which are common to all city managers
Activities
- Workshops
- Seminars
- Short in-house training programs
- Regular in-house discussions / brainstorming sessions
- Use of think tanks
- Overseas exposure
Advocacy
By raising the sensitivity of state and central governments to urban issues.
The following is an illustrative agenda for urban advocacy
- Placing the urban issues on the agenda of state government
- Devolution of full powers to ULBs to strengthen there financial base in terms of the 74th amendment of the Constitution
- Total autonomy of municipalities to raise taxes and introduce non-tax revenues
- Include the cities in the infrastructure master plans at the state and central level
- Tax exemption for municipal bonds.
- Encourage the concept of privatization
- Development of professional cadre of city managers
- Economic contribution of the cities to be considered and financial support should be given for infrastructure development in the cities by the state and central governments
- Urban agglomeration planning should cut across individual city limits and should be done through a consultative process.
