Provision of Urban Amenities and Facilities

Municipal corporations were established with the aim of providing urban amenities and civic facilities to the people residing in the cities. Some government institutions provide urban amenities and facilities even in rural areas, a concept that was introduced by former president Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. 

Provision of urban amenities and facilities

Municipal corporations provide various urban amenities and facilities, such as: 1) disposal of solid waste materials, 2) providing water and electricity to the residents of the city, 3) providing emergency relief when any disaster strikes (such as when a fire breaks out, it is the duty of the municipal corporation to provide fire services), 4) providing rules and regulations on land use and also clearing for the construction of buildings, 5) Urban planning and management (for example, managing urban floods and water logging or traffic management).6) social and economic upliftment of the city’s marginalised sections (such as providing employment opportunities or low-interest loans to slum dwellers);7) supply of water to economic and commercial sites8) Environmental protection and promotion of long-term development.9) Resource management that is both sustainable and effective,10) providing fire services in the event of an emergency11) providing health services to the residents of the city and improving the sanitation system of the city, 12) ecological and environmental preservation13) promoting urban forestry for the conservation of nature and also protecting the ecological diversity of the city, 14) protecting the interests of society’s marginalised groups,15) Improvement of slum dwellers’ living conditions, 16) Repair of broken lights, 17) Elimination of urban poverty18) establishing other urban amenities and facilities, such as parks, playgrounds, and other recreational activities19) advocacy for cultural and societal values 20) supervising burial grounds and crematoriums, particularly electric crematoriums21) preventing cruelty towards animals (such as cattle husbandry, which is illegal in Indian cities), 22) vital statistics, including registration of births and deaths, 23) providing civic amenities such as bus stops, parking lots, and so on.24) establishing laws and regulations governing slaughterhouses and tanneries. The main objective of municipal corporations is to provide services for the public convenience. Apart from that, the municipal corporations work towards the upliftment of the weaker sections of society. For example, municipal corporations provide loans to form self-help groups or start small businesses. This helps to reduce unemployment and urban poverty. In India, municipal corporations run schools to provide free education to impoverished children. The municipal corporations also run and manage hospitals to provide better health facilities to the residents of the city. 

Registration of birth and death

Vital statistics, including registration of births and deaths, show that the municipal corporations run an effective and functional civil system for the registration of births and deaths. It is required for all parents to register their children after their birth, and only then are they legally recognised as residents of the country. The same is required when a person passes away. After the death of a person, his/her immediate family needs to inform the municipal corporations. Then the municipal corporation issues a death certificate, which is useful and effective in succession and also to acquire many such benefits. 

Water Supply

Water supply for domestic, economic, and commercial purposes is important. water is an essential commodity and a city or an urban sprawl consists of several industrial or commercial sites. Especially in India, some cities are industrial hubs, and the service industry is booming in some of the Indian cities. For all these reasons, water is heavily needed in huge quantities. The municipal corporation is usually tasked with providing water services for domestic, industrial, and commercial purposes. The municipal corporation stores water in large tanks and sometimes recycles dirty water to meet the demand for water. 

Conclusion

The municipal corporations of India are responsible for providing to the people residing in cities. These facilities include water supply for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes; fire services; registration of births and deaths; etc. This registration also helps with the census of the city. These concepts are important for aspirants as they present a clear picture of the administrative framework of India. So, the aspirants must take good care of these concepts and prepare them accordingly.