Our Municipality and its Functions
We have already studied that to develop village areas VDCs are formed . In the same way, to develop urban areas municipality plays a vital role . A municipality is composed of a Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and nine or more ward chairpersons . Mayor is called the head of the municipality . For the term of five years, all the adult citizen of the municipality areas are elected. Our country has 99 municipalities at present.
Types of Municipality
Into three division municipalities in Nepal are classify on the basis of population , urban facilities and income of a city . They are
- Municipality
- Sub-Metropolitan city
- Metropolitan city
Municipality
Government of Nepal can declare any urban area as a municipality which possesses the following requirements :
- A minimum population of 20,000 ( for hilly regions 10000)
- A minimum annual income of Rs. 5 lakhs
- A semi-Urban area possessing electricity, transportation, drinking water, communication and similar other basic facilities.
Sub-Metropolitan City
A Sub-Metropolis should possess the following requirements:
- A minimum population of 1 lakh
- Minimum Annual Income of 10 crores
- Facilities like electricity, drinking water, and communication
- Main Road of a city is pitched
- Facility of higher education and health service
- Have minimum physical facilities for conducting national & international sports and games
- Facilities like gardens, parks & city hall be available
- Has already become Metropolis
Metropolitan City
A metropolitan city should possess the following requirements:
- A minimum population of 3 lakhs
- A minimum annual income of 400 million
- Facilities like electricity, drinking water, and communication
- Main Road and other link roads are pitched
- Availability of special health services like hospital, medical college etc.
- Has physical facilities for conducting international sports and games
- Sufficient opportunities are available for higher education with at least one university
- Has already become sub-metropolis
Municipal Ward Committee
Each municipal area has been divided into a certain number of wards on the basis of geographical situations and population. At present, the minimum number of wards are 9 and maximum of 35. Award committee is formed in each ward which consists of the members elected by the adult citizen of the country living in the concerned ward. There shall be award chairperson, a woman ward member and three other ward members in the ward committee.
Municipal Assembly
Every municipality there is a Municipal Assembly which is formed to create a plan, policy and give the budget of a municipality. Following are the members of this Assembly:
- A Mayor, Deputy-Mayor of the municipality .
- Ward chairperson, women ward member and ward members of each ward.
- Six to 20 members with at least 40% women are nominated by the Municipal Assembly from socially and economically disadvantaged classes, social workers, suppressed tribal and aborigine communities who are qualified but not represented in Municipal Assembly.
Power and Functions of Municipality
To develop urban areas municipality is formed and here, it plays an important role.The municipality is entrusted with several responsibilities and duties. Functions of municipality are given below :
- To prepare the annual budget, plans and programmes of the municipality .
- provide development in education through the establishment of primary schools,libraries providing scholarships to needy students and conducting adult education and non-formal education.
- providing encourage and develop spots through various programmes.And also to preserve and protect cultural and religious heritage .
- To implement plans and programmes relating to water supply, drainage, providing entertainment such as parks, gardens, playgrounds and public halls. etc.
- To the establishment of general hospitals, health centres, health post-Ayurvedic dispensaries and to run programmes concerning family planning mother-child welfare, public health etc.
- To run programmes based on social welfare like helping women , orphans , disabled and destitute children based on rehabilitation.
