EQUI-CITY PROJECT ACTIVITIES FOR 2018

Training workshop for elected representatives

The three training workshops for elected representatives of NMC were successfully conducted.
The Equi-City Project has a core element of capacity building wherein officials are capacitated and sensitised and honed to become leaders and tackle specialised issues faced by the target cities to ensure equitable service delivery. The capacity building programme has been developed by engaging with the stakeholders (CDF) through interactive participatory sessions and strengthened by research. The elected representatives were sensitised on both organisational and citizen needs. The training programme equips the municipal officials and elected representatives to translate their learning into action and pave the way for the equitable and efficient municipal services. The research support given by the staff is helping NMC to improve the quality of its intervention in providing services. Elected representatives and municipal officials using the training are promoting positive changes in the city.

Finalisation of Equality Framework and Inclusive HR Policy for NMC (January-September 2018)

This activity seeks to create Equality Framework which will enable municipalities to assess their human resources structure from an equality and diversity perspective. It will be an internal assessment tool to ensure diversity within LA .
The Framework will seek to promote diversity in local government. It is about recognising the needs, values and contribution that employees from diverse backgrounds can make to local government and encouraging their participation at all levels. It will seek to promote diversity in leadership and decision-making roles, including elected representatives and senior staff.
Firstly, comparative analysis of different equality frameworks was made and a report prepared to suit the Indian context, specifically for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. The report derives inputs from “Diversity in Nagpur Municipal Corporation- A Status Report” undertaken by the research and analysis staff. Following which, Diversity and Equality Framework & inclusive HR policy were developed. This framework is seen as a progressive measure and will be used as a benchmark for promoting diversity and equality in the LA and its relationship to its citizens.
The equality and diversity framework is also non-discriminatory in nature providing equitable opportunities for each employee for merit based promotion, irrespective of community affiliations, and promotes a community oriented approach. The HR Policy also addresses equality matters such as job segregation and matters of equal pay.
The main objective of Equality Framework & HR Policy for Local Government is to:
Identify & eradicate the unlawful discrimination and provide equal opportunities for the people
Identify, assess & sensitize the roles & responsibilities, within the stakeholders of the system
Review & improve the performance of the services for the people
Enable identification, knowing and involving communities
Create a skilled & committed workforce
Through analysing NMC’s workforce statistics, comparing these statistics with the broader community demographics and consulting with agencies, a number of key challenges under these objectives were identified. These objectives or gaps will lead to formulation of this framework & HR Policy by also creating a set of regulations for diversity and inclusion in local governance of the city.

Development of Municipal Rating System (January-September 2018)

To bring the concept of Performance Measurement alive in Nagpur, Equi-City Team started working on developing a Municipal Rating System to measure efficiency in delivery of municipal services. The aim is to develop monitoring and evaluation tools which will allow both stakeholder (citizens, NGOs, etc.) and local authorities to ensure transparent and accountable delivery of municipal services. The monitoring and evaluation tools will be collaboratively developed by all stakeholders – through iteration of the Municipal Rating System.
The focus of these tools is to create a demand pull by citizens to ensure effective and efficient service delivery by local authorities. For this activity a questionnaire has been designed based on research and analysis to select 4 particular prabhags for further research on monitoring of current status of municipal services and coming up with citizen and community scorecard for an effective Municipal Rating System.
Further, Equi-City Team conducted an analytical field survey covering 4 Prabhags and approximately 3000 Households. The aim of this activity was to gather initial information of level of services being provided in these areas after which analysis would be done to compare services with the Service Level Benchmarks. Performance Measurement must be accompanied with performance benchmarking, otherwise it becomes difficult to judge how well or how poorly the agency is performing and what types of corrective actions are required.

CDF meeting on Disaster Management Plan conducted on 2nd June, 2018

One of the objectives of Equi-City Project is to engage stakeholders in finding collaborative solutions for the city through a common platform, City Development Forum. Streamlining participatory forums like City Development Forum is crucial as it provides a platform to citizens as well as stakeholders to become a part of governance structure of the city.
Utilizing the already functioning CDF, the NMC organised a CDF meeting on 2nd June, 2018 to discuss the Disaster Management Plan for Nagpur City. Feedback and suggestions from various stakeholders and CDF members were taken into account. The action has helped NMC to mobilise resources in a participatory manner using an innovative City Development Forum (CDF) comprising key stakeholders.

Cleanliness awareness campaign

Since Equi-City Project is bound to sensitise 200,000 citizens and 50,000 urban poor under its objectives on Water and Sanitation for which city wide campaign is proposed by Equi-City Team of which a total of seven Cleanliness Awareness Campaign were conducted at various locations in Nagpur from May to October, 2018. Under these campaigns Equi-City Team sensitised households in the slums and students from schools and colleges by distributing pamphlets and sensitising them around the designated location on Water & Sanitation, Cleanliness, Rejuvenation of Water Bodies and No Tobacco Spitting Campaign.

Regular Activities for All Months

Equi-City Team regularly keeps in touch with CDF, Diversity Committee and NMC officials through mails and keeps them updated about the on-going and upcoming activities of the project. Management and organisation of Project Meetings are also done on a regular basis. Further, Monthly Newsletter and a monthly article in Urban Update are also published to highlight the ongoing activities under the Equi-City Project. A separate website of Equi-City is also in place to receive feedback from the citizens.

Upcoming activities

Further awareness campaign on Water & Sanitation will be conducted for which 200,000 citizens will be targeted in Nagpur.
Equi-City Team will also generate a Municipal Rating System for which targeted survey in four Prabhags has been completed following which analysis on certain parameters to evaluate discrepancies in delivery of services will be identified and rated.

Stakeholders’ views

Capacity Building initiatives under Equi-City Project involving Training Workshops for municipal officials and elected representatives have been effective in sensitizing stakeholders on various issues of governance and sustainable urban development. – Mahesh Dhamecha (Asst. Commissioner, GAD, NMC Nagpur)
Equi-City Project is a very beneficial project for NMC as it has provided a platform for engagement between administration and citizens. It has provided an insight into the expectations of citizens from NMC and necessary policy changes to achieve them. Recently concluded survey has helped NMC to identify areas lacking in delivery of services and how to overcome them.- Girish Gandhi (Convener – City Development Forum, and Director -Vanrai Foundation, Nagpur)
Equi-City is an important project for NMC as it has enhanced the leadership qualities of elected representatives through capacity building Training Workshops on Slum Development and Gender Empowerment. – Varsha Thakerey (Elected Representative,
NMC Nagpur)