Kerala - Kochi   

South African team calls on Mayor

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: An eight-member South African parliamentary committee on provincial and local Governments visited the Kochi Corporation on Thursday to learn more about the decentralised planning and functioning of the local self-governments in the State.

The committee consisted of Solomon Leschesa Tscnoli, Mpho Morepya Sephwe Lekgoro, Issac Drank Mogase, Willem Philips Domon and Peter Francis, MPs; Lewllyn Brown, committee secretary, Zanele Mayise and M.L. Minnie, Acting High Commissioner.

Mercy Williams, Mayor, E.M. Sunil Kumar, chairman, Town Planning Standing committee of the Corporation, and other officials of the civic body held discussions with the visiting team.

The visitors were keen on learning about decentralisation of power, mayoral election process and also the plan preparation process, the civic authorities said. The delegation also visited the District Panchayat.

Mr. Tscnoli said the country had nine provinces, 283 municipalities and six corporations.

The maximum population among corporations was 25,000.

Mining and agriculture were the major sources of income. Though wheat, grapes and sugar were being cultivated, there was no separate department for agriculture. But the local bodies were supporting farmers.

The team was received by District Panchayat president P.S. Shyla. Members R.M. Ramachandran, M.E. Hassainar and K.M. Kunjumon also spoke. Mr. Tscnoli presented Ms. Shyla with a memento.

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