Delivery of environmental services in slums and the decentralization reform in local administrative system in Aurangabad, India | |
| Author | Rose, Suneeram Brenda |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.UE-01-05 |
| Subject(s) | Local government--India Decentralization in government--India |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This study, which was carried out in Aurangabad Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra State in India, critically analyzed the urban local body functioning after the decentralization initiation took place. The study explored if the reformed administrative system was able to deliver better environmental services for the poor living in the slums. Based on the qualitative data that was collected, there was no substantial improvement in the services provided and the people expressed high dissatisfaction with the performance of the ULB. The discussion carried out in the study shows that the decentralized system of ULB still followed the "top-down" approach and the reformed system did not provide the grounds for change in the planning mode. An evaluation of the decentralized system based on the various attributes of good governance showed that level of accountability, efficiency, effectiveness, corruption, transparency, and information dissemination has not improved in the system and they have negatively influenced the environmental service delivery for the poor. Slum dwellers took collective action with the failure of the state to provide important environmental services as their coping strategy. Though the collective action taken by them is economically viable and brings in self-esteem, they are not environmentally sustainable to the full extent. This calls for the government agencies and NGOs to play the role of an "enabler". If the government takes an effort to tap the potential of the collective action of the slum residents, there are opportunities for better delivery of environmental services in the decentralized system. This would also bring in "bottom-up" planning into the system and also facilitate the practice of the attributes of good governance in the system. Further study can be carried out to work out the details on how the community, government and the civil society can collaborate and work together to improve the environmental service delivery in the slums. |
| Year | 2002 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Urban Environmental and Management (UE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Sajor, Edsel |
| Examination Committee(s) | Zimmermann, Willi ;Earth, Barbara |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Dutch Government |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2002 |