CLGF Secretary-General Carl Wright addressed an event on Decentralisation and development: experience from Commonwealth countries at the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) in India on 20-21 January. While speaking at the event, Mr Wright highlighted some of the key initiatives underway in India including the Smart Cities Mission, which is encouraging bottom-up innovation and inspiring cities to work with the local community to identify and address their needs.

He also highlighted some of KILA’s achievements especially around empowering communities and women. Mr Wright said, “CLGF looks forward to closer engagement with India, Kerala and KILA in taking forward our common goals for greater community empowerment, effective decentralisation in municipalities and panchayats as well as for the achievement of development al local government in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.

While in Kerela, Mr Wright also gave international recognition to the work of Former Union Minister of Panchayati Raj Hon Mani Shankar Aiyar and the Panchayat and Social Justice Minister Kerela, Dr M.K. Muneer.

As part of his visit to South Asia, Mr Wright also met with Kerela Panchayat and Social Justice Minister Dr M.K. Muneer and the Deputy Mayor of Cochin Municipal Corporation, Kerela T. J. Vinod.