In Karnataka there are any number of NGOs, strategically located in Bangalore, Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada mainly, each focused on a single concern. It could be evicting tribals from their ancient home and hearth, deforestation, environment, wild life and even here specifically focused on tiger, so on and so forth. They have their funding agencies from abroad and also from the State or Central Governments.

In our city we have very few NGOs working for the good of our city without any funding mentioned above. In fact, just two are really active and serious in their pursuit. One is Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore (ACICM) and another Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP). If the former is pro-active in its approach to problems, the latter is reactive. But both have been playing a very useful role in containing the greedy politicians and incompetent officials in their rip - off of the city.

The ACICM Convenor M. Lakshmana's efforts in goading the incompetent Corporation Administration to get the funds available from the Central Government under it scheme for selected cities known as Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) is indeed commendable. But for his aggressive and relentless approach in putting pressure on the Corporation authorities. Thus, whatever is happening in this regard would not have happened.

Indore in Madhya Pradesh is one of the cities that is availing the funds under the JNNURM scheme for the Urban Management Project. We must remember that the JNNURM is also backed by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and all the projects are backed by 50 per cent grants from JNNURM. The latest edition of SPAN magazine has carried a detailed article about how Indore found new ways to deliver better service to its citizens. The article under the heading helping Indian Cities Move into the Future, says it all.

It is said that by 2030 half of India's population will be living in cities, putting more pressure on civic infrastructure. To help finding solutions to these problems, the USAID is offering to help Indian cities learn new methods of Civic Service Management. This project provides training and technical support to local bodies to increase revenue through better management and provide better civic facilities for citizens.

I am sure our Mysore city today, raring to become a boom city in the next 10 years, is indeed in urgent need of assistance from USAID's Urban Management Project. Our newly elected 65 Corporators and a dynamic and visionary bureaucrat P. Manivannan, who heads both MUDA and the City Corporation, should consider availing of this project for our city not only for technical support but also to provide training to our, obviously not so skilled, engineers and planners.

It appears; a decade ago Indore Municipal Corporation had meagre resources. Roads were bad, water supply and sanitation services were inadequate. The situation was helpless. However, in the year 2000 the Corporation leaders of Indore (Corporators) together took the initiative and prepared what they called a "Vision Document". They worked out ways to increase revenue and to make citizens partners in the developmental schemes.

Once this done, it was easy for the Indore Corporation to find a partner in USAID for the Urban Management Project which started in 2003. Better management multiplied its resources. The training under USAID Project changed the mindset of the Urban Managers — the economists, planners, architects, engineers and administrators.

Look at the benefits that emanated as a result: Senior citizens aged 60 to 80 are provided medical insurance of Rs. 20,000. The city's residents are given accident disability insurance of Rs. 10,000. All girls studying in Government Schools are covered under an insurance plan which gives them about Rs. 87,000 to complete their studies, if one of their parents dies accidentally. The Corporation is also building houses for slum dwellers.

The MGP in Mysore, with its leading light Dr. Bhamy V. Shenoy, has always been urging our City Corporation to introduce better accounting methods to block corruption but sadly, for obvious reasons, the idea did not find favour with any of our bureaucrats, much less with our money hungry politicians.

And look at this. Indore Municipal Corporation has even introduced new Software, which enables public to deposit their taxes and water bill dues easily. They can also check the details of their payments and dues with just a few clicks of their computer buttons.

However, at the end of it all we must admit that the success of any urban reform initiative depends on the political will of our elected representatives and a cordial and meaningful relationship between them and the executive.

See what can be done if there is rapport between the Corporators, the officers and the tax payers and they work in tandem. In Indore a barren hill was covered into a green forest with the help of the citizens. Here in our city we have Chamundi Hill majestically overlooking our royal, heritage city with its own greenery. But see what we are doing to our Chamundi Hill. There is large scale encroachments and pockets where buildings have come up like an eye-sore. The sparse greenery you find on and around the Hill is God's gift to Mysoreans. Not that of the Forest Department which is entrusted with the responsibility of greening the Chamundi Hill. Indeed, as your vision is, so is your action. Did you get me Steve?

Move over Mr. M. Lakshmana…. Our Corporators are taking over.

Courtesy: Star of Mysore