Social Welfare Services of Urban Local Government in Bangladesh: A Study on Selected Paurashavas

Abstract

The role of Local Government can not be underestimated for the development of the nation in all respects. Urban Local Government as an integral part of Local government system are playing a significant role in the modernization process of the developing countries. Paurashava as a Local government institution (LGI) are contributing immensely in flourishing democratic governance, maintaining social order and cohesion, supporting economic development and delivering different infrastructural and social services. Since the emergence of Bangladesh in 1971 Local government emerge as viable institutions due to the policies of the regimes who have changed the system at will and as a result it lost the structural and functional continuity. In most cases these have been done by Ordinances and not by the Acts of the parliament. Institutional performance is the function of different service delivery mechanism, different aspects of the human and non human resources as well as the behavioral traits of the service providers. A proper functioning of urban local governance would ensure good quality of services with the help of infrastructural facilities, logistic support, educated leadership, cordial service environment, finance, manpower, technological support, people's participation, training, planning and coordination which are the important factor of urban local governance. Educational status of elected representatives are not satisfactory. They are not capable enough to advise proper guideline to office staff for better service delivery. Now a days, elected representatives and office staff have accessibility of training from different institution but training manual are not organized. Trainings are done on an adhoc basis as isolated project activity. There is an institution called National Institute of Local Government (NILG) that works in the backyard of the LGD. The NILG has been conducted training without any specialization, vision, mission and professional manpower. Good Governance will be ensured when LocalGovernment are empowered through implementation of the laws according to constitution. Though there are enough laws but the major difficulties are in the implementation of the law. Paurashavas are not enough responsive to address complaint. Most of the respondents do not know about how to access to the complaint loading authority. Most of the allegations are done orally. Nepotism treatment by the service providers is the most pressing problem in selected Paurashavas that affects the service delivery. To address the poor people, the Government of Bangladesh has launched a number of social Safety Net programmes (SSNP) for protecting people from poverty, food insecurity and vulnerability. Being one of the important SSNP, the vulnerable group feeding (VGF) has implemented by Paurashava in municipal area. Paurashava as an Urban Local Government Institution (ULGI) has been delivering a number of social services to meet the needs of mnicipal residents. But "Vulnerable Group feeding" and "Slum Infrastructure Improvement programme" have institutional structure. Besides these services, there are some non institutional social welfare services, like-financial help of different institution / club, financial help of different religious institution, financial help of different helpless and needy people, medical assistance of helpless and distressed people and unclaimed dead body buried etc. There are twelve Government prescribed condition for getting VGF assistance. Among the beneficiary, all criteria are not equally treated. Some criteria are available in every selected Paurashavas but some are negligible for selection of the beneð€€³ciary. Beneficiary selection is not uniform at the grassroots level in all areas and it is not followed according to the guidelines. During name enrollment procedure, endeavour is practiced at selected Paurashavas but not severe. Partisan and nepotism are considered as a serious problem during selection of VGF beneficiaries. On the basis of time consumption selected Paurashavas delivered VGF food more or less timely. Quality of food in every Paurashavas are sometimes very bad and often bad. Scrutinizing list is one of the step which should be followed during card distribution. But authority is not careful as well as sincere to follow this step. Hanging the list at the Paurashava office is hardly practiced. Most of the allegations against wrong selection of beneficiary are done orally. Final list ofVGF beneficiary never be approved by the Mayor in open meeting. Slum infrastructure improvement programme (SIIP) working under close monitoring and supervision of paurashava with the help of UGIIP-II (Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement programme). The components include improvements m roads, drains, footpath, water supply, sanitation, solid waste management m slum areas. Trained slum improvement committee (SIC) is responsible for operation and maintenance of slum infrastructure programme. Allotment of fund under SIIP are balanced but fund allocation process has bureaucratic complexity. Appropriateness in the sense of site selection, it is quite satisfactory. People's participation 1s a very important part m service delivery mechanism but few portion of the people have accessibility in Paurashava governance system. Participation in problem selection level is very important stage of social welfare service delivery. There is a limited scope of people's participation in decision making level. WLCC and TLCC effectiveness, regular meeting, enhance consciousness, local level action plan, active communication and citizen involvement in project work can increase people's participation which can ensure better service delivery.