Councillors to get lessons in MC functioning

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22

Don’t be surprised if you see your elected representatives taking lessons in the functioning of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation from officials. In an attempt to provide all kind of details about the civic body to councillors, MC Commissioner B Purushartha has decided to hold a two-day workshop for them next week. 

The idea of the MC Commissioner has been appreciated by councillors, especially first-timers. Of the 26 elected councillors, 14 are first-timers. Besides, of the nine nominated councillors, eight are new to the MC House. 

Purushartha said during the workshop, MC officials would give detailed information about the MC functioning to the councillors. He said the councillors had demanded such a workshop. It would also help the officials and the councillors share ideas.

A senior MC official said during the workshop, the dates of which would soon be finalised, the councillors would be given information regarding the MC history, financial position, committees, its role and responsibilities, division of work between the civic body and the UT Administration, how to prepare the agenda and the hierarchy of the civic body.

“At present, some newly elected councillors approach senior MC officials for all kinds of work whereas some of these can be done at the level of the JE, the SDO and the XEN. This workshop will help these councillors,” the official said. 

‘A welcome move’

“It is a welcome move by the Municipal Corporation as it will provide detailed information about the MC  functioning. It will certainly help the newly elected councillors,” BJP councillor Mahesh Inder Sidhu said. 

“The workshop will be beneficial in various aspects such as the preparation of the agenda, how to place agenda in different committees and other technical details. It will broaden the vision of the new councillors,” BJP councillor Kanwarjeet Singh said. 

BJP to hold separate workshop for its councillors

City BJP president Sanjay Tandon is also planning to hold training sessions for party councillors, especially for newly elected councillors, on the MC functioning. Experts from Mumbai and Pune will be called to hold sessions on different subjects.