Perspectives Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Decentralization of powers is a pre-requisite of a democratic country. Local Self-Government implies the decentralization of powers so that the elected bodies may function independently with authority and resources to bring about "economic development and social justice. The achievement of Independence by our country opened a new chapter in socio-economic reforms, as embodied in the Directive Principles of State Policy, enunciated in the Constitution, which also established a federal system of public administration and provided for universal adult franchise and adopted the objective of welfare state. The Article 40 of the Constitution lays down that the state would take steps to establish autonomous bodies in the form of village panchayats.

Since the time of independence struggle the Local Self Government has played a significant role. However after Independence, the Constitution of India as framed on federal principles, divided the functions of the government into three lists such as Central,State and Concurrent lists. The local bodies come under the State List and in case of Union territories under the Central List.

In the recent years the Local self Government has been playing a vital role. These local bodies not only provide services to the communities but also act as an instrument of democratic self government. Besides the local self government has become an essential part of the national government structure. This level of local government is now recognized by the people as they are close to the citizens and involve them in the decision making process.

On the basis of 73rd and 74th Amendments Acts of the Constitution, The Panchayat Raj and the Municipality Act came into effect on the 23rd of April and 30th of May 1994 respectively. As a result, the powers were decentralized, the responsibilities and projects of the Government were transferred to the local self-government on 2nd October, 1995.

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, marks a water-shed in the history of local self-government in the country since it gives a constitutional mandate to the state governments to restructure and revamp rural local bodies in accordance with constitutional obligations. The Act provides for (i) the creation of three tier system of PRIs - gram panchayat at the village level, Janapad Panchayat at the block level and Zila Panchayat at the district level, with sufficient powers and functions contained in schedule XI of the Act,besides introducing the panchayati raj system as local self government for all states by providing for establishment of Panchayats

The Central Government has also taken significant steps to address the issues related to the governance of urban areas. Recent government policies allow for greater community participation, private sector participation and decentralisation. Institutions of local governance are being encouraged/assisted to experiment with and introduce new practices. Existing practices are being streamlined by taking into consideration the local issues. An important initiative in this respect is the enactment of the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act during the year 1992.
Through this measure, an attempt is being made to improve the performance ability of municipalities, so that they are able to discharge their duties efficiently.

As such the Local self-government is authorized by the Constitution Of India to play a very important role in the formulation of policy and implementation of developmental works at the grass roots level through the Gram Sabhas. In order to deliver the above duties, the Local Self Government have been given certain powers to earn revenues by levying certain taxes and fees. In addition to it, the State Government also transfers some of its general revenues to the Local Self Government.

Since the nature of local authorities' responsibilities is fundamental to the reality of local self-government, it is in the interests of both clarity and legal certainty that basic responsibilities should not be assigned to them on an ad hoc basis but should be sufficiently rooted in legislation. In India the responsibilities on them has been conferred by the Constitution through an Act of Parliament.

As these Local authorities, acting within the limits of the law, are required to regulate and manage a substantial share of public affairs under their own responsibility in the interests of the local population,it would be interesting to analyse their functioning so far as local units of governance and find out how far these units have been able to enhance the quality of governance by way of a reoriented strategy in their decision making process and if they have proved to be the vehicle of people’s empowerment, particularly, the poor .
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