Local Government

Notes

Local government is the third tier of government, bringing governance close to people. In rural areas it is the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs); in urban areas the municipalities. Local government is a State subject (List II, Entry 5), and Art. 40 (DPSP) directs the State to organise village panchayats.

Evolution

1687: Madras Municipal Corporation; Lord Ripon's Resolution (1882) is called the "Magna Carta of local self-government".
Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935: local government made a provincial subject.
Community Development Programme (1952) and National Extension Service (1953).
Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957): a three-tier Panchayati Raj (Gram, Block, Zila); "democratic decentralisation". First adopted at Nagaur, Rajasthan, on 2 October 1959.
Ashok Mehta Committee (1977): two-tier (Zila Parishad and Mandal Panchayat).
G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985): bureaucratisation ("grass without roots"); L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986): constitutional recognition and Gram Sabhas; Thungon Committee (1988).
64th Amendment Bill (1989) failed in the Rajya Sabha. The 73rd and 74th Amendments were passed in 1992 and came into force on 24 April 1993 and 1 June 1993.

Related laws: PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996; National Panchayati Raj Day is 24 April.

Issues: inadequate funds, functions and functionaries (the three Fs), dominance of bureaucrats, proxy representation of women ("sarpanch-pati"), weak State Finance Commissions, and uneven devolution.

Key Points

Local government: Panchayats (rural) and municipalities (urban); State subject.
Lord Ripon (1882): Magna Carta of local self-government.
Balwant Rai Mehta (1957): three-tier system; Ashok Mehta (1977): two-tier.
73rd and 74th Amendments (1992): in force 1993.
Key problem: funds, functions and functionaries.

MCQs

Q1. The "Magna Carta of local self-government" refers to the resolution of: (a) Lord Curzon (b) Lord Ripon (c) Lord Mayo (d) Lord Dalhousie Ans: (b). 1882.

Q2. The three-tier Panchayati Raj structure was recommended by: (a) Ashok Mehta Committee (b) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (c) G.V.K. Rao Committee (d) L.M. Singhvi Committee Ans: (b). 1957.

Q3. Panchayati Raj was first inaugurated in: (a) Nagaur, Rajasthan (b) Kolkata (c) Jaipur (d) Mumbai Ans: (a). 2 October 1959.