Local Governments - Class 11 Political Science - Chapter 8 - Notes, NCERT Solutions & Extra Questions
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Extra Questions - Local Governments | Indian Constitution at Work | Political Science | Class 11
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Constitution of India visualised village panchayats as units of selfgovernment. Think over the situation described in the following statements and explain how do these situations strengthen or weaken the panchayats in becoming units of self-government.
a. Government of a State has allowed a big company to establish a huge steel plant. Many villages would be adversely affected by the steel plant. Gram Sabha of one of the affected villages passed a resolution that before establishing any big industries in the region, village people must be consulted and their grievances should be redressed.
b. The government has decided that $20 \%$ of all its expenditure would be done through the panchayats.
c. A village panchayat kept on demanding funds for a building for village school, the government officials turned down their proposal saying that funds are allocated for certain other schemes and cannot be spent otherwise.
d. The government divided a village Dungarpur into two and made a part of village Jamuna and Sohana. Now village Dungarpur has ceased to exist in government's books.
e. A village panchayat observed that water sources of their region are depleting fast. They decided to mobilise village youth to do some voluntary work and revive the old village ponds and wells.
a. Strengthen Panchayats: Allowing the Gram Sabha to discuss and pass resolutions on large projects like steel plants empowers it by ensuring community involvement and addressing local concerns. This helps validate the Panchayat as a unit of self-government that can actively participate in decisions affecting the village's welfare.
b. Strengthen Panchayats: Allocating 20% of government expenditure to Panchayats significantly strengthens them by providing financial autonomy and resources required to implement local development initiatives effectively, fostering self-governance.
c. Weaken Panchayats: Denial of funds for priority projects like a village school undermines the Panchayat's authority and ability to address local needs, weakening its role as a self-governing body.
d. Weaken Panchayats: The dissolution of village Dungarpur by splitting it into parts erodes the established community structure, resulting in a loss of identity and weakening the continuity and effectiveness of local governance represented by the existing Panchayat.
e. Strengthen Panchayats: By mobilizing voluntary resources to address water depletion, the Panchayat takes proactive steps in local resource management and community engagement, which are key attributes of a strong and functional unit of self-government.
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A student of Delhi University, Raghavendra Parpanna, wanted to study the role of decentralisation in decision making about primary education. He asked some questions to the villagers. These questions are given below. If you were among those villagers, what answer would you give to each of these questions?
A meeting of the Gram Sabha is to be called to discuss what steps should be taken to ensure that every child of the village goes to the school.
a. How would you decide the suitable day for the meeting? Think who would be able to attend / not attend the meeting because of your choice.
(i) A day specified by the BDO or the collector
(ii) Day of the village that
(iii) Sunday
(iv) Naag panchami / sankranti
b. What is a suitable venue for the meeting? Why?
(i) Venue suggested by the circular of the district collector.
(ii) Religious place in the village.
(iii) Dalit Mohalla.
(iv) Upper caste Tola
(v) Village school
c. In the Gram Sabha meeting firstly a circular sent by the district collector was read. It suggested what steps should be taken to organise an education rally and what should be its route. The meeting did not discuss about the children who never come to school or about girls' education, or the condition of the school building and the timing of the school. No women teacher attended the meeting as it was held on Sunday.
What do you think about these proceedings as an instance of people's participation?
d. Imagine your class as the Gram Sabha. Discuss the agenda of the meeting and suggest some steps to realise the goal.
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Ask Chatterbot AINotes - Local Governments | Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work | Political Science
Comprehensive Notes on Local Governments for Class 11 Students
Introduction to Local Governments
Local governments play a critical role in a democratic system. They are governmental bodies that operate at the village and district levels, closest to the common people, and are responsible for addressing local issues. This proximity allows for efficient democratic decision-making and administration.
Historical Background and Evolution
Early Village Communities and Panchayats
India has a rich tradition of self-governing village communities dating back to ancient times. These communities were initially known as 'Sabhas' (village assemblies) and later evolved into Panchayats (an assembly of five people). These bodies were responsible for resolving local issues.
Lord Rippon's Initiatives and Further Developments
In 1882, Lord Rippon, the Viceroy of India, initiated the creation of local boards, marking the advent of modern local governance. This development continued post-independence with the establishment of Panchayats under the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935.
Mahatma Gandhi's Vision for Decentralisation
Mahatma Gandhi strongly advocated for the decentralisation of political and economic power. He believed that empowering village Panchayats would promote effective decentralisation, enhance people's participation in development, and maintain the spirit of democracy.
Constitutional Amendments
The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments were pivotal in shaping the structure and functioning of local governments in India.
Significance of the 73rd Amendment
The 73rd Amendment, enacted in 1993, focused on rural local governments, also known as Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
Three-Tier Structure
The amendment established a uniform three-tier structure for Panchayats:
- Gram Panchayat: Covers one or a group of villages.
- Mandal/Taluka Panchayat: Intermediary level.
- Zilla Panchayat: District level.
Gram Sabha and its Role
The Gram Sabha comprises all adult members registered as voters in the Panchayat area. It plays a crucial role in ensuring accountability and active participation in local governance.
Mandatory Elections and Terms
Elections for all three levels of Panchayati Raj institutions are conducted every five years. If a Panchayat is dissolved, fresh elections must be held within six months.
Reservation Policies
One-third of all positions in Panchayats are reserved for women. There are also reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and, optionally, Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Transfer of Subjects (Eleventh Schedule)
Twenty-nine subjects, primarily related to local development and welfare, were transferred to Panchayati Raj institutions.
74th Amendment and Urban Local Bodies
The 74th Amendment, also passed in 1993, aimed at reforming urban local bodies or Nagarpalikas.
Structure and Functions
The amendment brought about uniformity in the structure and functioning of urban local bodies, ensuring direct elections, reservations, transfer of subjects, and establishment of State Election Commissions and Finance Commissions.
Definition of Urban Areas
An urban area is defined as having:
- A population of at least 5,000.
- 75% of the male working population engaged in non-agricultural activities.
- A population density of at least 400 persons per sq. km.
Key Functions and Responsibilities
Local governments are responsible for various development and welfare functions, including:
- Agriculture and irrigation
- Health and sanitation
- Education
- Social welfare
- Public distribution systems
These duties ensure that local bodies are deeply involved in the day-to-day life and development of communities.
Implementation and Challenges
Election Process
Local government elections are conducted by State Election Commissioners, ensuring autonomy and impartiality in the electoral process.
Financial Aspects
State Finance Commissions are established to review the financial position of local governments and ensure fair allocation of resources.
Social Dynamics
The reservation policies have significantly altered the social composition of local bodies, making them more representative. However, dominant social groups often resist this change, leading to conflicts.
Case Studies
Examples like Geeta Rathore, who transformed her village through proactive governance, highlight the potential of local governments. Legal battles, such as those fought by the Vengaivasal Gram Panchayat, showcase the importance of local government autonomy.
Comparative Analysis
International Models
Bolivia is an exemplary case of democratic decentralisation. The Popular Participation Law of 1994 enabled local elections, fiscal transfers, and empowered municipal governments to manage local health and education facilities.
Future Directions
Empowering local governments requires genuine decentralisation, allowing local bodies real authority over their functions, resources, and decision-making processes. Strengthening local governments is crucial for deepening democracy and ensuring that power rests with the people.
Conclusion
Local governments are indispensable for effective democracy. While the 73rd and 74th amendments have laid a robust foundation, there is a need for genuine implementation and enhanced autonomy to truly realise the potential of local governance.
Additional Information: Flowchart
graph TD
A[Local Government Structure] --> B[Gram Panchayat]
A --> C[Mandal/Taluka Panchayat]
A --> D[Zilla Panchayat]
This flowchart outlines the hierarchical structure of the Panchayati Raj as established by the 73rd Amendment, ensuring that every level of local government contributes to the overall governance mechanism.
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