Mentor’s comment-
- https://www.thehindu.com/
opinion/op-ed/democratise-and- empower-city-governments/ article38293949.ece - In the intro, mention important role played by the local governments in dealing with the pandemic.
- In the body, mention the issues faced by the city governments such as financial problems due to lack of resources, lack of powers, the approach of treating cities as adjunct of state, lack of financial empowerment etc. In the suggestions mention allowing functional autonomy to the city governments, making available the financial resources etc.
- Conclude by mentioning the need to ensure functional and financial autonomy of the local governments.
Ref: 0000513717
Likhitha
Good attempt.
Introduction is good.
Challenges part is also well written, you can also mention heavy dependency on grants for revenue expenditure (as octroi has been subsumed), lack of involvement in planning for disaster management, very less functional autonomy etc
Suggestions are also good. Some examples such as model of Kerala where 40% of the State’s plan budget was for local bodies can be cited.
Inclusive planning, disaster risk reduction strategies can be also mentioned.
Next you can conclude, no need to write ‘way forward’ here, suggestions itself are basically way forward.
Overall, you have written well, since this is a 15 marker, you have the scope for increasing content.
Keep practicing. 🙂