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.
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.
Table of Content
- Why Local Government?
- Growth of Local Government in India
- Local Governments in Independent India
- 73rd and 74th Amendments
- Implementation of 73rd and 74th Amendments
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