Evaluation of Two Urban Development Programs in West Bengal, India

The 74th Constitution Amendment in Indian Parliament has provided a broad structure for organizing urban governance. Urban local bodies are expected to assume a large role in planning, financing and management of urban areas. Apart many other activities the urban Poverty Alleviation Programs (SJSRY) and Health Care Intervention (IPP-8) are major two programs implemented by Urban Local Body (ULB). Kalyani Municipality an Urban Local Body (ULB) in West Bengal, India has implemented the above two programs with considerable period of time. The two case studies illustrate the experiences of ULB in implementing programs with the support of community based institutions developed by active encouragement from ULB. These community based institutions are the direct outcome of decentralized governance that India is experiencing for quite a long time courtesy to the 74th constitutional amendment. In the present book the two case studies were presented. The two case studies will hopefully help to develop an understanding about the impact of development programs in the ambience of decentralized urban governance in India.