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Seventh Session of General Council
4thNovember, 2013
Seoul, Republic of Korea
report on satellite office2010-2013
(Provisional Agenda -)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- Present Status
- Future Plan
- Chronology of Satellite Office
1. Introduction
The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) offered to host a satellite office in 2003, and the offer was accepted at the Nineteenth Session of the Executive Committee held in Lyon in 2004.
MCGM established the Satellite Office in its heritage building at the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai Headquarters in October 2008 and hired its office manager for the satellite office. The office is expected to increase the presence of CITYNET in the sub-region and act as a catalyst in bringing together developing cities, as well as pooling its knowledge, expertise and experiences to fulfill its potential and help achieve the MDGs.
2. Present Status
MCGM has approved a budget of Rupees 08Lakh 30 Thousand (US$ 13,175), in the current fiscal year for the satellite office. The budget provision is to be used to further equip and furnish the office in 2013-2014.
The Satellite Office runs & performs its functions under the direct supervision and guidance of Mr. Kiran Achrekar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (General Administration) in MCGM.
To assist him, Mr. Milind Bafna, is performing his duties as a Coordinator with the CITYNET Satellite Office, Mumbai from August 2010, in overlooking ongoing affairs at the Satellite Office. Mr. Milind is assigned this duty as an additional charge with his regular duties as a Assistant Public Relations Officer for MCGM, Mumbai. Also, a full time clerk for Satellite Office, will be appointed soon, resulting in faster & smoother functioning of S.O.
3. Future Plan
MCGM would mainly concentrate on strengthening the Satellite Office & particularly world work to achieve the following objectives:
a) To spread the message of CITYNET throughout India and endeavour to enrolmore members from the Indian Sub-continent.
b) To spread awareness and conduct training programmes on behalf of the SatelliteOffice as far as the clusters are concerned among the city governments of India.
Relocation, Renovationand fitting of the Satellite Office is under consideration as MCGM Head Office is under process of duly renovation. To further equip the satellite office with office facilities. To launch a vigorous membership drive.
4. Chronology of the Satellite Office of CITYNET:
- 2003: 18th Session of the Executive Committee, 18 October 2003 in Muntinlupa, Philippines
The Satellite Office concept was first proposed at the 18th Session of the Executive Committee to mainly support the work of the CITYNET Secretariat, which was relatively understaffed. A Satellite Office would be hosted by an Executive Committee member which could be the centre of excellence of CITYNET activities.
As agreed by the Executive Committee, budget provision and human resource would be allocated towards the establishment of the Satellite Office.
The Secretariat was requested to prepare the Terms of References (TOR) for submission to the 19th Session of the Executive Committee.
- 2003: Mayors’ Forum of the CITYNET Executive Committee on 19 October 2003, in Muntinlupa, Philippines
The Honorable Mayor of Greater Mumbai, Mr. Mahadeo Bhagoji Deole, accompanied by the Municipal Commissioner in his statement offered to host a Satellite Office to enable CITYNET to enhance its reach in the South Asian region, particularly in the Indian subcontinent. He added that there was a strong possibility of increasing CITYNET membership in South Asia.
- 2004: 19th Session of the Executive Committee, in Lyon, France
As requested by the 18th Session of the Executive Committee, the Secretariat submitted the TOR as part of the 2004 Programme Report, which was subsequently adopted by the 19th Session of the Executive Committee.
- 2005: 20th Session of the Executive Committee, in Hanoi, Vietnam
A sum of US$2,000 was allocated in the Budget of 2005 for this purpose. Mumbai was expected to submit a working plan.
- 2005: Fifth Session of General Council of CITYNET, in Hanoi, Vietnam
The Satellite Office was envisaged in the Medium Term Plan 2006-2009 as part of CITYNET’s effort to decentralise its activities and operations as well as widen its coverage. The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has taken the lead in setting up a Satellite Office in Mumbai.
- 2006: 22nd Session of the Executive Committee, in Mumbai, India
The budget for the year 2007 allocated financial provision, with a maximum of US$3,000 for the first 3 years from the establishment of the Satellite Office. The MCGM reported that the Satellite Office was expected to begin its operation in January 2007.
- 2007: 23rd Session of the Executive Committee, in Makati, Philippines
MCGM reported that space in a heritage site, at MCGM headquarters had been identified for the office and that a staff member is being recruited and the office should be operational within another two months. It was suggested that the necessary funds for the first year of US$1000 be released for the office in advance and the Executive Committee approved to release the funds as soon as the Satellite Office is operational.
- 2008: 24th Session of the Executive Committee, in Changwon, R.O. KOREA
Mumbai decided to set the Satellite Office in the Mumbai City Headquarters, a heritage building and hire a Project Manager at the Mumbai City Headquarters. Mr. S.S. Shinde from MCGM gave the objectives of the Satellite Office, the final location and the salary of the person in charge. As in the TOR, CITYNET is ready to finance $1000 for the first year and the rest is to be borne by Mumbai.
- 2009: Furnishing the Satellite Office and Starting its Operation
MCGM set up the Satellite Office in their heritage building of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai Headquarters and hired Ms. Seema Marathe as Office Manager of the Satellite Office.
On 6th October, 2008, the new Office Manager of Satellite Office, Ms. Seema Marathe was recruited. She visited the CITYNET Secretariat in Yokohama from 16-20 March 2009 to discuss strategies on how Satellite Office could help improve CITYNET’s functions for better development of local governance system in the region. During the on-the job training programme, she learned about the institutional and programme activities - such as the medium-term plan, the objectives of national chapters, the concept of clusters and targeted priority areas as well as communication strategies.
Satellite Office is currently deliberating on a large number of activities to be undertaken over the coming years. As part of its effort to understand the needs of Indian cities and local governments, an assessment particularly on MDG achievement and status is being planned. The Office will also carry out comprehensive communication and information activities to ensure CITYNET’s outreach, not only within the local government bodies, but also amongst the local citizens on the ground.
The details and communications, please contact:
CITYNET Satellite Office
Ground floor, Room No. 27, Municipal Head Office,
Mahapalika Marg, Mumbai – 400 001, INDIA
Tel/Fax: +91-22-2262-0251 (Ext: 3015)
E-mail: , Website:
Ms. Seema Marathe was replaced by Mr. Amit Jadhav in October, 2009 because her contract was ended by the end of September. He took over all assignments from Ms. Marathe and supports Secretariat in Yokohama through Satellite Office in Mumbai.
- 2010: Operation in the Satellite Office
Mr. Amit Jadhav, who was performing his duties as co-ordinator of the CITYNET Satellite Office, Mumbai from October 2009 has been relieved from his duties w.e.f. 12 August, 2010 as he has resigned from service of the MCGM. Mr. Milind Bafna, new Office Manager of Satellite Office has taken over the responsibilities previously assigned to Mr. Jadhav. Mr. Bafna shall assist Mr. Rajendra Vale, Deputy Municipal Commissioner in MCGM in overlooking the affairs at the Satellite Office, Mumbai hereafter.
Satellite Office will assist CITYNET in organizing the training and study visit in Mumbai as the follow-up action of the urban safety workshop held in May 2010 in Metro Manila.
The 27th Session of Executive Meeting, held at Yokohama in October 2010, was represented by the then Hon’ble Mayor of Mumbai Mrs. Shraddha Jadhav & the then Hon’ble Municipal Commissioner Mr. Swadheen Kshatriya.
In the month of November 2010, as part of the Urban Safety Workshop follow-up activity, Programme Director to CITYNET Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi visited MCGM for two days along with Mr. Elkin Velasquez, Coordinator, Safer Cities Programme, UN-HABITAT. In this concern, various issues were discussed respectively with Hon’ble Municipal Commissioner, Mr. Vale, then after SPARC, Police Panchayat & All India Institute of Local Self Government, Mumbai. The MCGM & Satellite Office promised to assist CITYNET in organising the said workshop and study visit in Mumbai.
- 2011: Operation in the Satellite Office
On 1st March, 2011, Mr.Toshiyuki Ushikubo, Manager & Mr. Yamaguchi, Dy. Manager of Project Development for Yokohama Waterworks Bureau had visited MCGM Head Office, Mumbai. When the meeting was held with MCGM senior officials, namely in the presence of the then Deputy Municipal Commissioner (General Administration) Mr. Rajendra Vale, Dy. Hydraulic Engineer (Maintenance) Mr. Pramod Guhe, then Chief Engineer for Water Supply Projects Mr. Pedanekar, Executive Engineer Mr. Pachpande.
The long awaited “Urban Human Safety International Workshop” was organized in the MCGM Head Office, Mumbai for 4 days i.e. from 23rd to 26th March, 2011. This is the prime activity of Satellite Office, not only in this year but from the tenure of establishment. 35 overseas participants & 35 local participants made this workshop a big success also strengthening network of CITYNET members in Asia – Pacific region. Dr. Bernadia, Mr. Kendra Hirata represented Secretariat while Ms. Cecilia Andersson, Dr. Barbara Holtmann represented UN – Habitat. Mr. Del De Guzman, Mayor of Marikina, Philippines was the chairperson for all sessions. On behalf on MCGM the then Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Mr. Aseem Kumar Gupta, Joint Municipal Commissioner Mr. S.S. Shinde, the then Deputy Municipal Commissioner (General Administration) Mr. Rajendra Vale, Chief Officer (Disaster Management Cell) Mr. Mahesh Narvekar were also participated in the workshop. MCGM provided all logistic supports to the workshop & arranged study visit.
As far as membership drive is concerned, this year, City of Solapur, Maharashtra State, India had joined CITYNET network. Satellite Office followed up procedure with Solapur. Satellite Office also communicated with City of Indore, City of Vishakhapattanam for due payment of Annual Membership Fee to Citynet.
UN-HABITAT had celebrated World Habitat Week at the World Expo in Shanghai, China on October 4-9, 2010. Entitled “Linking Asian Cities to the UN”, this special meeting was held on October 7, 2010, at the Forum of the UN Pavilion, Shanghai. Mr. Najeeb Suleman Mulla, the then Leader of Opposition and Mr. Milind Madhav Patankar, the then Chairman, Standing Committee, both from Thane Municipal Corporation (neighbor city of Mumbai) represented India in this meeting, was the result of fruitful effort made by S.O.
The then Deputy Municipal Commissioner (General Administration) Mr. Rajendra Vale was nominated by MCGM Administration to represent at Twenty-Eighth Session of the Executive Committee Meeting followed by international seminaron climate change and the role of local governments between 26th to 28th November 2011 held at Dhaka, Bangladesh. But due to awaited clearances from government, he was forced by situation to remain absent at session and seminar.
- 2012: 29th Session of the Executive Committee, in Surabaya, Indonesia
The then Deputy Municipal Commissioner (General Administration) Mr. Rajendra Vale representedMCGM at Twenty-Ninth Session of the Executive Committee Meeting followed by international seminars between 09th to 14th July 2012 held at Surabaya & Sidoarjo Indonesia.
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