In his address, Malhotra said that women councillors have to play an important role in the functioning of urban local bodies under the 74th amendment of the constitution.

Principal Secretary, Local Self Government, D S Bains highlighted the importance of the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme and infrastructure development schemes for small and medium towns to avail the financial assistance from the central government. He advised the participants to prepare project reports to provide improved water supply and sewerage services and to take measures to make the cities clean.

Former Chairman of first Punjab Finance Commission, J P Gupta informed the participants about the salient features of the 74th amendment of the constitution. He said that urban local bodies are faced with challenges of generating more revenues to meet the increasing expenses of local bodies. He said sources of revenue devolved on urban local bodies, do not match with the wide range of functions.