Urban Institute to create trained staff at local level

NEW DELHI: Lamenting the shortage of trained employees at civic and municipal bodies, Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath today said JNNURM projects could have been far more successful had there been dedicated cadres at local level.

"It is very important that we have trained staff in municipal bodies. JNNURM went through well and could have gone better if there were proper and trained people to frame the projects and execute them," he said after laying the foundation of Urban Institute of India along with Housing and Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) Minister Girija Vyas here.

Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, one of UPA's flagship programmes launched in 2005, was meant to develop infrastructures in cities across the country.

He said, "There was complete lack of knowledge at small and medium municipal levels. There are no skilled people, there are no town planners and no one dedicated to municipal service."

He said some of the projects were executed by contractors in the absence of trained people.

Nath also informed that the second phase of JNNURM will come up before the Cabinet soon for its approval.

The Institute is being set up to facilitate capacity building in the urban development. It will help in creating a dedicated cadre required in municipal bodies.

Nath said the Institute is first of its kind in the country which will help in augmenting capacity building in urban development through training of employees.

The institute under HUPA Ministry will also involve in the research on urban issues and policies.