Urban local Body needs high level technical manpower as urgently as it needs capital. A crucial factor in improving the coverage and quality of services is the availability of adequate number of personnel with task-oriented training. Among the three components required for developmental tasks -- men, money and material (M3) it is more the men (or the human element) duly qualified, than any other factor which determines the quality and quantity of the performance and output. After all, even the contribution of money and material to performance depends substantially upon their manipulation by the men in an organization.  Thus, Human resources are critical for the success of any social activity.

We have discussed the problems of urban local bodies in all areas whether infrastructure, housing, drinking water, sanitation, solid water, management. These services instead of improving are rather deteriorating.  In order to solve these problems, we have to provide professional, technical and dedicated Municipal Staff who can solve Municipal problems.

Failure of municipal administration has often been attributed to the absence of a well-organized personnel system and all the commissions or committees appointed since Independence have recommended the creation of provincial or State cadres of municipal services, particularly in respect of higher supervisory posts.

The Central Council of Local Self-Govern¬ment consisting of State Ministers of Municipal Administration and pre¬sided over by the Union Minister has also adopted resolutions from time to time for the institution of municipal cadres. As a result, numbers of State governments have taken steps to centralize or provincialism municipal services for higher administrative and technical positions.

In some States, appointments to the posts of executive officers, municipal engineers and health officers have been integrated with the respective cadres of State services, or there is limited system of deputation to municipal service. This has a steadying effect on the functioning of municipal administration. But the progress in this direction has been halting.

Even where State cadres have been introduced, most of the lower level ministerial and technical staff are covered by a separate personnel system. But a far more serious matter that bedevils the effective functioning of municipal authorities has been a total lack of emphasis on staff management, fixation of responsibility, lines of control and supervision, and a proper system of punishment and awards.