Question

“SPUR” project in Bihar relates to :
1. Health
2. Poverty
3. Banking
4. Municipal Finances
5. None of the above/More than one of the above

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : Municipal Finances

The correct answer is Municipal Finances.

• Support Programme for Urban Reforms (SPUR):
  • SPUR is a six-year partnership programme (2008-2014) and now on extension phase for another 2 years (2014-2016) between the Government of Bihar {through Urban Development & Housing Department (UD&HD)} and the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID, UK).
  • The programme aims to revitalise and enable the urban centres in Bihar to play their expected role in economic growth.
  • It aims at poverty reduction through improved economic attractiveness of project ULBs for private investments.
  • SPUR is being implemented in 29 ULBs that house about 60% of the urban population in the state of Bihar.
  • Capitalising on the lessons emerging from the implementation of local economic development interventions, SPUR is providing strategic guidance for the implementation of the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM).
  • Most importantly, SPUR has succeeded in making a gradual shift of attention towards urban poverty alleviation & livelihood issues.
  • SPUR has adapted well to the changing (progressively more ambitious) policy priorities of the Urban Development & Housing Department (UD&HD), Government of Bihar under four outputs of SPUR (governance, revenue mobilisation, slum infrastructure and community mobilisation) as these initiatives are now scaled up to all 141 ULBs of the state.

• Key Outputs of SPUR:
  • Effective policies and stronger institutions to promote and manage urban development in place.
  • State and ULBs mobilise significantly increased resources for urban development and manage them more effectively.
  • Identified ULBs plan, implement and manage urban infrastructure and services more effectively.
  • Increased municipal capacity to attract private investment in urban areas (Local Economic Development).
  • Empowered poor communities and socially excluded groups access increased urban resources and livelihood opportunities.
• Achievements:
  • The project has demonstrated strong progress especially under strengthening urban governance and municipal financial reforms.
  • SPUR has put in place important policy and regulatory frameworks.
  • Infrastructure planning has improved and the focus has now been on helping the government access funds from various sources including donor agencies for implementation of the various DPRs.
• Focus:
  • The focus is on capitalising on working relationships established with the stakeholders and utilising them to rise to the programme implementation challenges.
  • The approach is centred around process, performance and experience.
  • The guiding principle is inclusivity & participation and the work is information and evidence based.
  • Further, to meet unexpected events and to keep the project on track, the main thrust of the team is on building capacities to ensure that all interventions are sustainable and scalable.