Local Governments Chapter 8 Class 11 Notes

A Local Government is a body of governance that works at the village/ district level and is the closest to the people, (e.g. Gram Panchayats, Nagarpalikas in India). The local government is involved in the daily lives of individuals living in villages or districts and makes efficient decisions better suited to these people.

This article discusses the Local Government System in India in detail, covering topics from their evolution over time, elections, impact, and the policies that affect Local Governments aka everything important there is to know for Class 11th political science students. Please go through this article properly for a better understanding of the topic.

Local Governments Class 11 Notes

Why Local Government?

Local government operates at the grassroots level, focusing on the needs and issues of ordinary citizens. It emphasizes the importance of local knowledge and interests in democratic decision-making and efficient administration. Geeta Rathore and the Gram Panchayat of Vengaivasal village serve as examples of how local governments can effectively protect local interests. Democracy thrives on active participation and accountability, which strong local governments ensure.

Geeta Rathore’s proactive involvement and Vengaivasal village’s efforts highlight the significance of local citizens in decision-making processes concerning their development. In a democracy, tasks suitable for local handling should be delegated to local representatives, as they are more connected and concerned with local governance’s impact on their daily lives. Strengthening local government thus reinforces democratic principles, echoing ideas proposed by Mahatma Gandhi for a system with local governance as the primary focus and national coordination as a secondary aspect.

Growth of Local Government in India

The growth of local government in India traces back to ancient times when self-governing village communities, known as ‘sabhas’, existed. These evolved into Panchayats, which addressed local issues. In modern times, elected local bodies emerged after 1882, initiated by Lord Rippon. However, progress was slow until the Indian National Congress pushed for more effective local governance. Village Panchayats were established in provinces following the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935.

During India’s freedom movement, Mahatma Gandhi advocated for decentralization, emphasizing the importance of empowering village Panchayats for effective governance and participatory democracy. The national movement aimed to decentralize power from the centralized authority in Delhi.

When drafting the Constitution, local government was assigned to the States and mentioned in the Directive Principles as advisory. However, it didn’t receive significant emphasis in the Constitution, partly due to the turmoil of Partition leading to a unitary inclination and concerns about factionalism and caste divisions in rural society.

Despite these concerns, there was recognition of the importance of people’s participation in development planning, with many members of the Constituent Assembly advocating for Village Panchayats as the foundation of democracy while addressing issues such as factionalism.

Local Governments in Independent India

Before the 73rd and 74th Constitution Amendment Acts, efforts were made to develop local government bodies. The Community Development Programme in 1952 aimed to involve people in local development. A three-tier Panchayati Raj system was recommended for rural areas, with some states like Gujarat and Maharashtra adopting elected local bodies around 1960. However, many lacked sufficient powers and relied heavily on state and central governments for funding.

In several states, elected local bodies weren’t established, and in some cases, they were dissolved, with government officers assuming control. Indirect elections and frequent postponements of local body elections were common practices.

Concerns about factionalism at the village level existed despite the prevalence of factions in political parties and other organizations. However, factions aren’t inherently negative, prompting questions about the fear associated with them.

From 1987 onwards, there was a comprehensive review of local government institutions, culminating in the P.K. Thungon Committee’s recommendation in 1989 for constitutional recognition of these bodies. The committee suggested constitutional amendments to ensure periodic elections, delineation of appropriate functions, and allocation of funds to local government institutions.

73rd and 74th Amendments

• The 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments, focusing on uniformity in structure of local governments across the nation and strengthening them, were introduced in 1989 and came into force in 1993.
• The 73rd Amendment concerns governance in rural areas (Panchayati Raj Institutions or PRIs) and the 74th amendment is about urban local governance (Nagarpalikas).
• Local government is a ‘State Subject’ aka the state has the authority to pass its own laws on the subject; However after the Constitutional revision, the states had to update their legislation to bring them on the same page with the new Constitution.

Important Provisions of the 73rd Amendment

The summary of what all comprises the 73rd amendment has been given in the tabular form below for an easier and faster understanding of students:

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Important Provisions Three Tier Structure (Panchayati Raj System) All States to have a uniform three-tier Panchayati Raj structure. Gram Panchayat is the lowest level of government under the three tier system. ( A village or group of villages). The intermediary level is the Mandal (Block or Taluka). These institutions are called Mandal or Taluka Panchayats. They need not be constituted in smaller States. At the top of this tier is the Zila Panchayat covering the entire rural area of the District. Other notable provisions Mandatory creation of the Gram Sabha which would consist of all the adult members registered as voters in the Panchayat area. The role and functions of Gram Sabha are decided by State legislation. Elections All the three levels of Panchayati Raj institutions are to be elected directly by the people. The term of each Panchayat body is 5 years. If the State dissolves the Panchayat before the end of its 5 year term, new elections must be conducted within 6 months. Reservation In all Panchayat bodies, women are given 1/3 of the seats in all categories. (Gen/SC/ST/OBC). Reservations are provided at all three levels for SC and ST, in proportion to their population. Reservations for backward castes can be made by the states if they deem it essential (OBCs). Reservations apply not only to ordinary members in Panchayats but also to the positions of Chairpersons or ‘Adhyakshas’ at all three levels. Transfer of Subjects The power, jurisdiction and duty of panchayats are given in Article 243 G of the Indian Constitution. The Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution now includes twenty-nine subjects that were previously on the State list of subjects. These subjects are to be transferred to the Panchayati Raj institutions. Each State decides how many of these twenty-nine subjects would be transferred to the local bodies. Earlier, the provisions of the 73rd amendment were not applicable to the areas inhabited by the Adivasi populations in the many states of India. In 1996, a separate Act was passed extending the provisions of the Panchayat system to these areas.

Election procedure and Budget Management of Local Governments

State Election Commissioners

The State government appoints a State Election Commissioner who would be in-charge of conducting elections to the Panchayati Raj institutions. The State Election Commissioner’s office, like the ECI, is autonomous; The State Election Commissioner is an independent officer and not associated with the Election Commission of India nor under its supervision.

State Finance Commission

Once every five years, the state government appoints a State Finance Commission. State Finance Commission examines the financial condition of the state’s local governments. The Commission also reviews the distribution of revenue between the State and local governments on the one hand and rural and urban local governments on the other. This ensures that the allocation of funds to the rural local governments is not influenced by political matters.

Important Provisions Of 74th Amendment

The 74th Constitutional Amendment Important Provisions Urban Area The Census of India defines an urban area as having: A minimum population of 5,000. At least 75 per cent of the male working population engaged in non-agricultural occupations. A density of population of at least 400 persons per sq. km. As per the 2011 Census, about 31% of India’s population lives in urban areas. The Nagarpalikas aka urban local bodies, are the subject of the Amendment. There are 18 topics associated to municipalities in it. This amendment is inserted the ‘Twelfth Schedule’ to the Constitution. Other Provisions The 74th amendment is similar to the 73rd amendment in many aspects like direct elections, reservations, State Election Commission and State Finance Commission, except that it applies to metropolitan areas. The Constitution mandated the transfer of a list of functions from the State government to the urban local bodies in the Twelfth Schedule of the Constitution.

Implementation of 73rd and 74th Amendments

Discussed below are impact of both the amendments on Indian local governance:

Positive Impact:

1. The Amendments have made the structure of Panchyati Raj and Nagar Palika institutions uniform throughout the country. The existence of these local institutions is an accomplishment in itself, as it gives a platform to common citizens to participate in the decision making process.
2. Reservation for women at the Panchayats and Nagarpalikas has led to the participation of significant number of women in local bodies. Women are now seen occupying the positions of Sarpanch, Adhyaksha and Mayors in Corporations. This a huge step forward in ensuring gender equality in politics and governance.
3. Reservation of SC, ST and Backward Classes in these local institutions has ensured the participation and inclusivity of all communities in the local governance of the country, thereby making them feel included and valued as a citizen of the country.

Issues with local governments:

1. The dominant social groups controlling the village do not wish to give up their power to others.
2. Many women were unable to assert their presence, as they are not taken seriously by men or were mere proxies for the male members of their family who sponsored their election.
3. Many States have not transferred most of the subjects to the local bodies, meaning that the local bodies cannot function in an effective manner.
4. The dependence of local bodies on the State and central governments for financial support has greatly limited their capacity to operate effectively.

Conclusion

We find that local governance system in India has gone through many stages of transition from the ancient era and is today an important part of the governance structure of the country. The local governments are the root of the Indian government because they are the most easily accessible institutions to the people making up majority of the country; Therefore inclusion and participation and election to these local bodies are extremely significant to strengthen the nation and as we have discussed above in detail, the constitutional recognition to the local bodies, has precisely done that.

FAQ’s on Local Government System in India:

What is the purpose of local government in India?

The purpose of local government in India in a nutshell is empowering people for self-government.

Which state in India has no Panchayati Raj institution?

All states of India have Panchayati Raj systems except Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram, in all Union Territories except Delhi; and certain other areas.

What are the 3 stages of Panchayati Raj?

The 3 stages or levels of the Panchayati Raj system in India are -Village Panchayat, Block Panchayat and District Panchayat.

What is 73rd amendment Act?

The 73rd Amendment Act, passed by the Indian Parliament in 1992, also known as the Panchayati Raj Act, aimed to decentralize power and decision-making from the central and state governments to the local Panchayats, and empower them to undertake development works in their respective areas.

What is the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act?

The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, which came into effect in 1993, deals with the issues relating to municipalities. The Act provided constitutional status to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).