Conference on Peer Experience and Reflective Learning (PEARL) Networking of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) Cities

5th February 2007

The Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), Government of India in partnership with the Municipal Administration & Urban Development Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad organized a national conference on the 31st of January, 2007 at Hyderabad to launch the 'Peer Experience and Reflective Learning (PEARL) Programme - an initiative to network cities for cross learning and sharing knowledge on urban reforms and city governance under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM).

The Mayor of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Mr. Mihir Kumar Mohanty and Mr. Umasankar Sarangi, Executive Officer of Puri Municipality attended the conference.

Over 125 delegates, primarily Mayors and Commissioners from the 63 JNNURM cities, representatives from State Level Nodal Agencies and the Technical Advisory Group of the JNNURM Directorate, attended the conference. The Union Minister for Urban Development, Mr. Jaipal Reddy and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy were among the distinguished speakers who addressed the delegates. Mr K. Ranga Rao, Minister for Municipal Administration & Urban Development, GoAP, Mr M. Ramachandran, I.A.S, Secretary, Urban Development, MoUD, GoI, Mr M. Rajamani, IAS, Joint Secretary, MoUD, GoI, Mrs Veena Ish, IAS, Secretary, Municipal Administration & Urban Development, GoAP and Mr Ramesh Ramanathan, National Technical Advisor, JNNURM, N. Bhattacharjee, USAID, Srinivas Chary Vedala, ASCI also spoke on the occasion.

The City Managers' Association Orissa is identified as the Knowledge Manager of PEARL in Orissa by the Housing & Urban Development Department. CMAO would be contributing significantly to achieve the urban reforms agenda of the JNNURM through capacity building and knowledge management under the PEARL programme in Orissa and will create sustainable Networks among both Indian & International Cities for Good Governance.