LOCAL SELF GOVERNANCE

Subject: Polity

Context: The conduct of local body elections will ensure good governance said Lt. Governor of puducherry.

Concept:

73^rd and 74^th Constitutional Amendments were passed by Parliament in December, 1992. Through these amendments local self-governance was introduced in rural and urban India.

Salient Features of the Constitution 73^rd and 74^th Amendments:

• These amendments added two new parts to the Constitution, namely, added Part IX titled “The Panchayats” (added by 73^rd Amendment) and Part IX A titled “The Municipalities” (added by 74^th Amendment).
• Basic units of democratic system-Gram Sabhas (villages) and Ward Committees (Municipalities) comprising all the adult members registered as voters.
• Three-tier system of panchayats at village, intermediate block / taluk / mandal and district levels except in States with population is below 20 lakhs (Article243B).
• Seats at all levels to be filled by direct elections Article243C (2).
• Seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) and the chair persons of the Panchayats at all levels also shall be reserved for SCs and STs in proportion to their population.
• One-third of the total number of seats to be reserved for women.
• One third of the seats reserved for SCs and STs also reserved for women.
• One-third offices of chair persons at all levels reserved for women (Article243D).
• Uniform five year term and elections to constitute new bodies to be completed before the expiry of the term.
• In the event of dissolution, elections compulsorily within six months (Article243E).
• Independent Election Commission in each State for super intendance, direction and control of the electoral rolls (Article243K).
• Panchayats to prepare plans for economic development and social justice in respect of subjects as devolved by law to the various levels of Panchayats including the subjects as illustrated in Eleventh Schedule (Article243G).
• 74^th Amendment provides for a District Planning Committee to consolidate the plans prepared by Panchayats and Municipalities (Article243ZD).
• Budgetary allocation from State Governments, share of revenue of certain taxes, collection and retention of the revenue it raises, Central Government programmes and grants, Union Finance Commission grants (Article243H).
• Establish a Finance Commission in each State to determine the principles on the basis of which adequate financial resources would been sured for panchayats and municipalities (Article243I).
• The Eleventh Scheduled of the Constitution places as many as 29 functions within the purview of the Panchayati Raj bodies.