Shimla’s former Deputy Mayor Tikender Singh Panwar joins national panel to shape model municipal act

Tikender Singh Panwar, former Deputy Mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation, has been appointed by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs as an expert on a newly formed Central government panel. This working group is tasked with drafting a Model Municipal Act, a crucial step towards enhancing democratic governance and strengthening urban administration across India.

Panwar and his colleague, Sanjay Chauhan, made history as Shimla’s first directly elected Deputy Mayor and Mayor, and now Panwar brings his experience to this national initiative. Joining him on the panel are other notable members, including the Principal Secretary for Urban Development from Maharashtra, experts from the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) in Bangalore, and several retired bureaucrats seasoned in urban governance.

This expert group has been entrusted with addressing the pressing challenges facing municipalities and urban local bodies across the country. The group’s broad mandate includes examining ways to improve the democratic and administrative aspects of municipal governance, especially by redefining the powers and responsibilities of key municipal leaders.

One of the central objectives is to empower mayors, positioning them as influential elected representatives with significant executive authority. Additionally, the panel aims to enhance the role of municipal councilors, making their contributions to Municipal Corporations more impactful.

Another critical aspect under review is the model of direct elections for mayors and deputy mayors in Municipal Corporations, which could be a step towards more accountable and effective local governance.

This initiative represents a forward-thinking approach to urban governance, with a focus on empowering local leaders and fostering a more robust municipal framework.