Municipal Corporation of Delhi

Municipal Corporation of Delhi दिल्ली नगर निगम
Type
Type	Local Authority of Delhi
Leadership
Mayor	Prof Rajni Abbi, BJP since April 2011
Commissioner	KS Mehra[1] since Feb 20, 2008
Leader of Opposition	Jai Kishan Sharma[2], INC
Members	272
Political groups	BJP INC BSP
Elections
Last election	2007
Meeting place
Town Hall
Website
www.mcdonline.gov.in

See also: New Delhi Municipal Council

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is a municipal corporation, an autonomous body that governs 9 Districts of Delhi, in the state of Delhi, India. It is one of three municipal corporations in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the others being New Delhi Municipal Council, and Delhi Cantonment Board. "The MCD is among the largest municipal bodies in the world providing civic services to more than estimated population of 11,007,835 million citizens in the capital city.^[3] The municipal corporation covers an area of 1,397.3 km² (539.5 mi²).

"Within its jurisdiction are some of the most densely populated areas in the world. It has also the unique distinction of providing civic services to rural and urban villages, resettlement colonies, regularised unauthorised colonies, Slum/Squatter Settlements, private 'katras' etc."

"MCD came into existence on the 7th of April, 1958 under and Act of Parliament. Prior to that DMC ( Delhi Municipal Committee ) was the principal civic body of Delhi. Eminent Freedom Fighter Guru Radha Kishan has the honour to represent MCD ( initially Delhi Municipal Committee ) for most consecutive years as a Councillor. The first elected Mayor of Delhi was Aruna Asaf Ali and Lala Hansraj Gupta served as First Mayor of Delhi. Since then, the Municipal Body has always been alive in its constitution and functioning to the growing needs of citizens. The 1993 amendment of the Act brought about fundamental changes in composition, functions, governance and administration of the corporation."

MCD zones

The entire MCD area is divided into 12 zones ^[4]:

1. City

1. Karol Bagh
2. Sadar Paharganj
3. West Delhi
4. Civil Lines
5. Shahdara South
6. Shahdara North
7. Rohini
8. Narela
9. Najafgarh

The Bharatiya Janata Party won a simple majority in April 2007 elections, by claiming 168 out of 272 wards in the corporation. Prof Rajni Abbi is the current Mayor of Delhi and Subhash Arya is the leader of House. The Indian National Congress won 64 seats, with the remaining seats going to a number of other parties and independent candidates. ^[5]

Amendment

The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments were introduced in 1992 and were meant to facilitate greater decentralization at the rural and urban level respectively. They did so through providing legal status to local assemblies and entrusting them with greater functions and powers. The inclusion of certain social categories that had historically been marginalized from policy making and implementing structures was fundamental to the project of decentralization. These social categories were the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women. While the 73rd Amendment applies to the Panchayati Raj system, the 74th Amendment applies to Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats depending on the size of the city. The 74th Amendment states:

“Not less than one – third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Municipality shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Municipality.

Similarly, the 73rd Amendment mandates the reservation of seats for women at all three tiers of the Panchayati Raj system.

Demographics

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[6] Delhi Municipal Corporation (U) had a population of 9,817,439. Males constitute 55% of the population and females 45%. Delhi Municipal Corporation (U) has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 77% and, female literacy is 67%. In Delhi Municipal Corporation (U), 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

References

1. ^ "KS Mehra takes over as MCD chief". http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/ks-mehra-takes-over-as-mcd-chief/274846/. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
2. ^ "MCD opposition leader asks for separate cycle-rickshaw tracks". http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/mcd-opposition-leader-asks-for-separate-cycle-rickshaw-tracks_100321914.html. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
3. ^ "Cities having population 1 lakh and above". censusindia. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf. Retrieved 20 October 2011. 
4. ^ Zones Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
5. ^ BJP storms Town Hall, infighting breaks out in Congress- Hindustan Times
6. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 

External links

Delhi portal

• Official Website of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi
• List of Colonies under MCD