The Municipal Corporation
- The Municipal Corporation is a big organisation that takes care of street lights, garbage collection, water supply, keeping the streets and the market clean.
- It is also responsible for ensuring that diseases do not break out in the city. It also runs schools, hospitals and dispensaries.
- It makes gardens and maintains them.
- In big cities it is called a Municipal Corporation and in smaller towns it is called a Municipal Council.
The Ward Councillor and Administrative Staff
- The city is divided into different wards and ward councillors get elected.
- The complicated decisions that affect the entire city are taken by groups of councillors who form committees to decide and debate issues.
- For example, if bus stands need to be improved, or a crowded market-place needs to have its garbage cleared more regularly, or there is a ‘nala’ or drain that cuts through the city that needs cleaning etc. It is these committees for water, garbage collection, street lighting etc. that decide on the work to be done.
- When the problems are within a ward then the people who live in the ward can contact their councillors.
- For example, if there are dangerous electrical wires hanging down then the local Councillor can help them get in touch with the electricity authority.
- While the Councillor’s Committees and the councillors decide on issues, the Commissioner and the administrative staff implement these.
- The Commissioner and the administrative staff are appointed. Councillors are elected.
- All of the Ward Councillors meet and they make a budget and the money is spent according to this.
- The Ward Councillors try and ensure that the particular demands of their wards are placed before the entire council. These decisions are then implemented by the administrative staff.
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