Local Governments in Independent India

Earlier efforts to develop local government bodies: 

• Community Development Programme (1952): It sought to promote people’s participation in local development in a range of activities
• A three-level Panchayati Raj arrangement of the nearby government was suggested for the rustic regions
• A couple of States (like Gujarat, Maharashtra) assumed the course of action of picking neighborhood bodies around 1960 yet in many States those nearby bodies needed more powers

Issues with earlier local government:

• There were a lot of wards of the State and local legislatures for monetary help
• Many States didn’t figure it important to build up chosen neighborhood bodies
• Neighborhood bodies were disintegrated and the nearby government was given over to government officials
• Many States had roundabout races to most nearby bodies
• In many States, decisions to the nearby bodies were delayed occasionally

In late 1980’s: 

• In 1989, the P.K. Thungon Committee suggested sacred acknowledgment for the nearby government bodies
• A sacred revision to accommodate intermittent races to neighborhood government organizations

73rd and 74th Amendments:

• In 1989, the central government introduced two constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening local governments and ensuring an element of uniformity in their structure
• Later in 1992, the 73rd and 74th sacred corrections were passed by the Parliament
• The 73rd Amendment is about rural local governments (which are also known as Panchayati Raj Institutions or PRIs) and the 74th amendment is about urban local governments (Nagarpalikas)
• Local government is a ‘State subject ‘and States are free to make their own laws on this subject
• In any case, when the Constitution was revised, the States needed to change their laws about nearby bodies to carry these in similarity with the corrected Constitution
• They were given one year’s time for rolling out important improvements in their individual State laws in the light of these corrections

73rd Amendment 

Three Tier Structure:

All States have a uniform three level Panchayati Raj structure.

• • At the base is the ‘Gram Panchayat’ which covers a village or group of villages
  • The delegate level is the Mandal (likewise alluded to as Block or Taluka). These bodies are called Mandal or Taluka Panchayats. They need not be established in more modest States
  • At the zila is the Zila Panchayat covering the whole provincial space of the District
• It also made a provision for the mandatory creation of the Gram Sabha which would comprise all the adult members registered as voters in the Panchayat area
• The role and functions of Gram Sabha are decided by State legislation

Elections: 

• Every one of the three degrees of Panchayati Raj establishments are chosen straight by individuals
• The term of every Panchayat body is five years
• Assuming the State government breaks down the Panchayat before the finish of its five-year term, new decisions should be held inside a half year of such disintegration

Reservations: 

• For women: One third of the positions in all panchayat institutions are reserved 
• For SC and ST: Reservations are provided at all the three levels, in proportion to their population
• For OBCs: They can be provided if the States find it necessary
• Reservations apply not simply to common individuals in Panchayats yet additionally to the places of Chairpersons or Adhyakshas at every one of the three levels
• Reservation of 33% of the seats for ladies isn’t just in the overall class of seats yet additionally inside the seats saved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and in reverse ranks
• A seat might be held all the while for a lady applicant and one having a place with the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes. Along these lines, that would need to be a Dalit lady or an Adivasi lady

Transfer of Subjects: 

• 29 subjects, which were prior in the State rundown of subjects, are distinguished and recorded in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution. These subjects are to be moved to the Panchayati Raj establishments
• Actual transfer depends upon the State legislation: Each State decides how many of these twenty-nine subjects would be transferred to the local bodies
• Article 243G: Powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats-the Legislature of a State may, by law, endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority with respect to the matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule
• The arrangements of the 73rd amendment were not made pertinent to the spaces occupied by the Adivasi populaces in many States of India. In 1996, a different Act was passed broadening the arrangements of the Panchayat framework to these spaces
• More powers to Gram Sabhas: The new Act ensures the privileges of these networks to deal with their assets in manners OK to them. The chosen town panchayats need to get the assent of the Gram Sabha in many regards

Subjects Listed in the Eleventh Schedule:  There are a total 29 subjects, listed in the 11th  Schedule. Some of them are: 

1. Agriculture, including agricultural extension
2. Land improvement, implementation of land reforms, land consolidation and soil conservation
3. Minor irrigation, water management and watershed development
4. Animal husbandry, dairying and poultry
5. Fisheries
6. Social forestry and farm forestry
7. Minor forest produce
8. Small scale industries, including food processing industries
9. Khadi, village and cottage industries
10. Rural housing
11. Drinking water

Conclusion:

Democracy means decentralization of power and giving more and more power to the people. The local governments are vital agencies to implement the welfare and development schemes of the central and State government. Giving more power to local governments means real decentralization of power.  People in the villages and urban localities must have the power to decide what policies and programs they want to adopt and the local governments are an important step in the direction of democratization.