Local self governments should ensure transparency in their operations, besides being accountable to people, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu has said.
Inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations of the Kochi Corporation here on Wednesday, Mr. Naidu said people would willingly pay taxes and participate in the development process provided there was accountability.
“Ideally, commissioners of cities should be on the road by 5.30 a.m. every day before the city wakes up, to see that everything is in order,” he said.
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People should be made aware of the details of the projects implemented in their cities including the cost involved, implementing agencies, and the estimated time for their completion. Transparency in business will win the confidence of people, he added.
The Vice-President called for the popularisation of e-filing of applications, so that people got them cleared within a maximum period of 60 days. “If not cleared within the time limit, the application should be deemed as approved. If an application could be cleared in six days, it would the ideal situation,” he said.
Often deviating from the prepared text, the Vice-President recalled his involvement in the pet projects of the city, including the Kochi metro, Smart City, and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, in his earlier role as Union Minister for Urban Development.
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On the sharing of the post of Mayor among various political parties, Mr. Naidu suggested a fixed term for civic heads. “If the term of the Mayor is two years, the first year will be spent receiving felicitations and the second on ways to continue in power,” he said.
He urged local bodies to mobilise internal resources rather than going to the State government for funds. “Raising loans for projects is fine for local bodies. But people will willingly contribute to the development of the city and pay taxes if there is transparency and accountability in dealings. Then politicians need not fear that people will axe them in the next elections even if they raise taxes,” he said.
The Vice-President also urged the media to maintain credibility and publish news only after ensuring its authenticity.
Camaraderie
Before proceeding to the dais to inaugurate the event, Mr. Naidu met a few invitees, including former Mayors and councillors, who were seated on the front row of the audience. Civic representatives who were seated in the second and third rows could be seen rushing to greet the Vice-President as he patiently met everyone and cracked jokes with them. Mayor Soumini Jain introduced the guests to Mr. Naidu.
He also released the theme song of the city at the function.
Governor P. Sathasivam; Minister for Local Administration K.T. Jaleel; K.V. Thomas, MP; Hibi Eden, MLA, and Deputy Mayor T.J. Vinod were present.
CPI(M) legislators M. Swaraj, K.J. Maxi, and John Fernandez, for whom seats were reserved on the dais, did not turn up for the event.