Withdraw proposal to divest public health from BBMP: Janaagraha

Points to benefits of devolution of public health functions, powers, staff and finances to local governments in Kerala

The need of the hour is for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to be empowered, besides integrating primary healthcare with water, sanitation and climate change functions, greater involvement of elected councillors and functioning area sabhas and ward committees. Instead, the Karnataka government has proposed to divest public health functions from the BBMP and hand them over to a parastatal under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, noted Janaagraha, a non-profit organisation. Opposing the proposed move, Janaagraha, in a press release on Sunday, urged the government to withdraw proposals that are in direct contradiction to the letter and spirit of decentralisation enshrined in the Constitution via the 74th constitutional amendment. Experience of Kerala over the last two decades clearly points to the benefits of devolution of public health functions, powers, staff and finances to local governments. Involvement of elected councillors at the ward and sub-ward level, and extensive citizen participation facilitated by the same, have brought tangible benefits to Kerala in its COVID-19 response.