Chandigarh, July 4 – Haryana Governor Sh Bandaru Dattatraya said that Chairpersons and representatives of Urban Local Bodies across the country should adopt a ‘Waste to Wealth’ approach by leveraging advanced technologies in waste management. He said that such initiatives would not only provide a fresh impetus to the Swachhata Abhiyan but also significantly enhance the economic resources of Urban Local Bodies.
Governor Sh Bandaru Dattatraya made these remarks while addressing the closing ceremony of the National Conference of Chairpersons of Urban Local Bodies in Manesar, Gurugram today.
The Governor congratulated the Vidhan Sabha Speaker and his team for successfully organizing the first-ever national conference for Chairpersons of Urban Local Bodies. He stated that it is a matter of pride that representatives from across the country not only participated in in-depth deliberations but also shared best practices related to urban development. He further said that the conference featured meaningful and constructive discussions on several key issues concerning urban governance, which will serve as a valuable guide for future policy-making.
The Governor said that Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan across the country, which has instilled a sense of awareness and positive thinking about cleanliness among citizens. He urged all representatives to actively involve the community in this campaign through widespread public awareness efforts, so that cities can become cleaner and more beautiful. “The greater the public participation in this mission, the more beautiful and healthier our cities will become,” he said. He especially emphasized the importance of special attention in cleanliness of slum areas. Additionally, the Governor highlighted the need for the rapid digitalization of Urban Local Bodies to improve efficiency and transparency.
He said that the government is committed to providing ample employment opportunities for the youth. In this context, he encouraged Urban Local Bodies to prioritize skill development initiatives in their respective areas to further enhance job prospects for youth. He also stressed the importance of learning from cities that have emerged as role models in various sectors, encouraging others to adopt their best practices and strive to become leaders in their own domains.
Ensure your meaningful contribution in building a developed nation and strive to advance your cities in every domain – Harvinder Kalyan
Addressing the gathering, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh Harvinder Kalyan said that the successful organization of this national conference was made possible through the visionary initiative of Lok Sabha Speaker Sh Om Birla. He said that Sh Birla firmly believes that, just like the Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies, local institutions at the grassroots level must also function effectively. This conference was organized with that very vision in mind.
Sh Kalyan welcomed representatives of Urban Local Bodies from across the country to the sacred land of Haryana, where significant and meaningful discussions took place on various critical issues. He emphasized that in a democracy, the more dialogue that occurs, the better the solutions, the stronger the decisions, and the smoother the execution of initiatives in the public interest.
He further highlighted Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047. He stressed that this goal cannot be achieved without a robust democracy, and that the strength of democracy is intrinsically linked to the empowerment of local bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions. In this spirit, he called upon all chairpersons and representatives present to take a pledge to contribute actively toward this national objective and to work diligently toward advancing their respective cities in all areas of development.
Sh Kalyan expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini, acknowledging that the successful conduct of this national conference was made possible by the excellent arrangements provided by the state government.
On this occasion, Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Assembly Sh Krishan Middha, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Sh Harivansh, Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha Sh P.P. Modi, and other distinguished dignitaries were also present.
