MULTIPLYING RESPONSIBILITIES OF URBAN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF KERALA AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Abstract Kerala is known for its achievements in decentralised planning and democratic decentralisation. Urban governance in Kerala has a long history dated back to 19th century. However, rural and urban local governance in Kerala has strengthened after People’s Planning Campaign (PPC) in 1996. Urban Local Governments (ULGs) in Kerala has empowered with sufficient Functions, Functionaries and Finance (3Fs). PPC has created a situation that has elaborated role of urban local governments from mandatory functions to developmental responsibilities. The role of ULGs has also turned to a developmental agency from a regulatory institution. This has led to the diversification of job role of employees and corresponding workload assigned to them. Different categories of employees in ULGs have assigned with new job roles along with the mandatory jobs assigned to them. They were force to work overtime and even during holidays. This has created obstacles in maintaining their work life balance. It has also created stress among employees which in turn affected their performance. The paper argues that sufficient human resource, allocation has not taken place along with the additional job burden imposed on Urban Local Governments. Hence the paper also argue that sufficient human resource reforms has to be taken place in ULGs of Kerala by considering the additional workload allocated to them to the expanded function of Municipalities and Corporations. Key Words: - Human Resource Management, Workload of Employees, Stress, Governance, Urban Local Governance.