Local Government
️ Democracy means :-
Meaningful participation and accountability. Vibrant and strong local governance ensures active participation and purposeful accountability. The work that can be done at the local level should be in the hands of the local people and their representatives. The general public is more familiar with the local government than the state, government or central government.
️ Local Government :-
The governance of village and district level is called local government. This is the closest rule of common man. In this, the day-to-day problems of the people are solved very fast and in less cost.
️ Importance of Local Government :-
Local governance is very important in our life, if local subjects remain with the local representatives, then the solutions of everyday problems of citizens' life are done faster and at less cost.
️ Development of Local Government in India :-
In ancient India, the self-governing community existed in the form of "Sabha". In modern times, elected bodies came into existence after 1882. At that time they were called "Facing Board".
After the formation of the Government of India Act of 1919, village panchayats were formed in many provinces. When the constitution was made, the subject of local government was handed over to the states. It is also discussed in the Directive Principles of Policy of the Constitution.
️ Local Government in Independent India :-
After the 73rd and 74th amendment of the constitution, the local government got a strong base. Earlier the "Community Development Program" of 1952 was another effort in this area, in this background a three-tier Panchayati Raj system was recommended under the Rural Development Programme. These bodies were heavily dependent on the state and central government for financial help. After 1987, a thorough review of the institutions of local government began.
In 1989, P. Of . The Dungan Committee recommended the grant of constitutional status to the bodies of local government.
️ Requirement of local government :-
To strengthen democracy, we need local governance.
Local government is needed for greater participation in democracy.
Most of the problems of the people are at the local level, which can be solved well at the local level.
In a good democracy, the distribution of powers is essential.
️ 73rd and 74th amendment of constitution :-
In 1992, the Parliament passed the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.
The 73rd Amendment is related to the local governance of the village. It is related to Panchayati Raj system. The 74th amendment deals with urban local government.
️ 73rd Amendment - Some provisions of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment :-
Three - tier structure: - now three - tier structure of the Panchayati Raj system in all territories.
Election: - The public election directly to the three tiers of PRIs. The term of each body is five years.
Reservations: - the provision of a third of seats reserved for SC and reservations in proportion to their population for Scheduled Tribes for women. If the state government wants, it can also give reservation in seats to Other Backward Classes (OBC).
The benefit of this reservation was that today women are working on the post of Sarpanch.
The tribal population areas of many states of India were kept away from the provisions of the 73rd Constitution, but in 1996, by making a separate law, these areas were also included in the provisions of Panchayati Raj.
️ 74th Amendment :-
74th Amendment is related to urban local government i.e. municipality.
74th Amendment Act has been made for major cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Madras and other cities where there is a provision of Municipality or Municipal Corporation.
For each municipal corporation there is a general council elected by all adult voters. These elected members are called councilors or councillors.
The elected members of the entire municipal corporation elect the president of one of their municipal corporations, which is called mayor.
According to the 74th Amendment Act, the tenure of each Municipal Corporation or Municipality or Nagar Panchayat is 5 years.
In case of dissolution of Municipal Corporation, Municipality or Nagar Panchayat, it is mandatory to conduct elections within 6 months.
️ State Election Commissioner :-
It is necessary for the states to appoint a State Election Commissioner. The responsibility of this Election Commissioner will be to conduct elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions.
️ State Finance Commission :-
It is necessary for the state government to constitute a regional finance commission every five years. This commission will keep information about the financial condition of the local sleeping institutions present in the state.
️ Urban Area :-
There should be a population of at least 5000 in such an area.
At least 75% of working men do work other than farming.
The density of population should be at least 400 persons per square kilometer. Special: In many ways, the 74th Constitutional Amendment is a repetition of the 73rd Amendment, but this amendment is related to urban areas.
All the provisions of the 73rd amendment such as direct elections, transfer of reservation subjects, regional election commissioners and regional finance commissions are included in the 74th amendment and are applicable to municipalities.
️ Implementation of 73rd and 74th Amendment :-
During this (1994 - 2016) period, at least 4 to 5 elections to local bodies have been held in the states. Due to the elections to the local bodies, there has been a steady increase in the number of elected public representatives. Women's power and self-confidence have increased significantly.
️ Transfer of Subjects :-
The amendment of the constitution has handed over 29 subjects to the local government. All these topics are related to the needs of local development and welfare.
️ Topics of Local Government :-
Subjects of the Eleventh Schedule
Roads
Rural Development
small scale industry
Irrigation
Market and Fair
Rural electrification
krishi
Education
Drinking water
️ Problems before the local government :-
Lack of money
Depends on governments for financial help
Spending more than income
Public awareness
