Indian Panchayats and Municipalities are endowed with the responsibility of taking care of the administration in the Indian villages and sub-urban areas in the country. The states in India are divided into many districts and the districts are further sub-divided into taluqs or tehsils. There are about 250-600 villages under each tehsil or taluq. The villages are managed and administered by the panchayat.
The Gram Panchayat or village council is the basic unit in a village. There is a Panchayat Samiti or Block Council that formed from electing members from the village council. The Zila Parishad or the District Council is at the head of this entire system. The Zila Parishad takes care of the blocks as well as the villages of India. Though the idea of the Panchayat System was introduced in India long time back, it took considerable amount of time to implement the system in the Indian villages. Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation had always vouched for Gram Swaraj, so that the villages could work efficiently and independently.
Funding of the Village Panchayats is an important part of the Panchayat administration. There are mainly three sources from where funds are available for Panchayats in India. The State Finance Commission recommends the State Governments for funds. The State Government then releases the funds as per its discretion. There are also many centrally sponsored schemes that help in funding the Panchayats in India. Apart from grants from the Government, there are many local bodies that arrange for funds for the local Panchayat. The Central Finance Commission also recommends the grants that are provided by the local bodies.
In 1993, an amendment was made to the Constitution, which was the 73rd amendment. The amendment was planned to change the scenario of the Indian villages. There was a plan of bringing true democracy even at the village level. There is also one-third reservation for women in the Panchayat seats.
The Panchayat System in India basically looks after the upliftment of the Indian villages. Issues like powerlessness, illiteracy, corruption, malnutrition, health and hygiene and many more are handled by the Panchayat. There are certain responsibilities that the Village Panchayat has to take up. Some of them include the following:
Previously the municipalities were dependent on the state governments for aids and finances. As a result, their being autonomous was coming under question. After 2000, they started becoming financially independent and self-sufficient.
The Municipal Corporation plays an important role in city administration. The Municipal Commissioner is the head of the Executive branch of the Municipal Corporation. The Municipal Commissioner has all the executive powers. The mayor is also an integral part of the Municipal Corporation, though he lacks any form of executive authority. There are also councilors, who work at the acute local level. The Municipal Corporation is responsible for the maintenance of roads, supply of clean and potable water to the general masses, street lighting, removal of garbage, sanitary and healthcare facilities, registration of births and deaths in the area, maintenance of bridges and heritage buildings, operating schools on primary level, opening of dispensaries and health clinics, naming of streets and houses and many more.
There are also some discretionary functions that are carried out by the Municipal Corporation. These include conducting surveys, public entertainment, organizing public receptions, public exhibitions, to construct and maintain museums, libraries, public parks and gardens, planning and laying of areas, construction of orphanages, leper homes, rescue home for women and street children, rest houses and many more. The welfare and well being of the municipal employees is also taken care of by the Municipal Corporation. The Municipal Corporation has to work hand in hand with the State Government for effective implementation of the various plans and programs that are set up for the welfare of the common people. However, at times it has been seen that there are disputes between the State Government and the Municipal Corporation on the ways of working and management of funds. There are also many non-government organizations and agencies that work with the State Government as well as with the Municipal Corporation to ensure better services to the people.
The members, who are an integral part of the Municipal Council, are its President, the Committee and the Chief or the Executive Officer. The President is elected from among the councilors and can be approached for any required help. The term of the President also varies from one to three years and is not the same as that of the council. Both deliberative and executive powers are vested in the President of the municipal council. The tenure of the councilors in the municipal councils varies from three to five years, in accordance to the municipal acts that are passed for the individual state. The municipal councils also have discretionary and obligatory functions that have to be carried out and are almost similar to the functions of Municipal Corporations and Municipalities.
With passage of time, new steps have been taken up to update and upgrade the municipal system in the country. Many modern mechanisms have been applied to these local bodies to that their efficient functioning is ensured. Quality of work has also been emphasized in the various agendas and acts that have been brought forward by the local administrative bodies.
Village Panchayat
The Panchayat is the local self-government in the villages of India. The Constitution of India, as per Article 40, had directed the Government of the country to set up Panchayats in the villages so that they can act as local self-government.The Gram Panchayat or village council is the basic unit in a village. There is a Panchayat Samiti or Block Council that formed from electing members from the village council. The Zila Parishad or the District Council is at the head of this entire system. The Zila Parishad takes care of the blocks as well as the villages of India. Though the idea of the Panchayat System was introduced in India long time back, it took considerable amount of time to implement the system in the Indian villages. Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation had always vouched for Gram Swaraj, so that the villages could work efficiently and independently.
Funding of the Village Panchayats is an important part of the Panchayat administration. There are mainly three sources from where funds are available for Panchayats in India. The State Finance Commission recommends the State Governments for funds. The State Government then releases the funds as per its discretion. There are also many centrally sponsored schemes that help in funding the Panchayats in India. Apart from grants from the Government, there are many local bodies that arrange for funds for the local Panchayat. The Central Finance Commission also recommends the grants that are provided by the local bodies.
In 1993, an amendment was made to the Constitution, which was the 73rd amendment. The amendment was planned to change the scenario of the Indian villages. There was a plan of bringing true democracy even at the village level. There is also one-third reservation for women in the Panchayat seats.
The Panchayat System in India basically looks after the upliftment of the Indian villages. Issues like powerlessness, illiteracy, corruption, malnutrition, health and hygiene and many more are handled by the Panchayat. There are certain responsibilities that the Village Panchayat has to take up. Some of them include the following:
- Safe and Clean Drinking Water
- Agriculture, Including Agricultural Extension
- Education Including Primary and Secondary Schools
- Women and Child Development
- Adult and Non-Formal Education
- Poverty Alleviation Programmes
- Rural Electrification, Including Distribution of Electricity
- Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Poultry
- Welfare of the Weaker Sections of Society that Include the Scheduled Castes and Tribes
- Small Scale Industries
- Village and Cottage Industries
- Health and Sanitation Inclusive of primary Health Centers, Dispensaries and Hospitals
- Social and Farm Forestry
- Land Improvement and Reforms
- Water Management and Minor Irrigation
- Technical Training and Vocational Education
- Family Welfare
- Maintenance of Community Assets
- Public Distribution System
- Libraries
- Rural Housing
- Roads and Other Means of Communication
- Collection of Taxes and Revenues, Tolls and Taxes
Municipalities and Municipal Corporations in India
The urban and sub-urban areas in India are mainly taken care of by the municipalities and municipal corporations. The size of the municipality can vary from one place to another. It can be as large as a district and as small as a tehsil. Work pressure on the municipalities has increased immensely from the time of independence. Various types of technologies are being implemented to reduce the pressure. The governance of the municipalities has also become easier with the introduction of technology. The implementation of technology has also helped in tax recoveries.Previously the municipalities were dependent on the state governments for aids and finances. As a result, their being autonomous was coming under question. After 2000, they started becoming financially independent and self-sufficient.
The Municipal Corporation plays an important role in city administration. The Municipal Commissioner is the head of the Executive branch of the Municipal Corporation. The Municipal Commissioner has all the executive powers. The mayor is also an integral part of the Municipal Corporation, though he lacks any form of executive authority. There are also councilors, who work at the acute local level. The Municipal Corporation is responsible for the maintenance of roads, supply of clean and potable water to the general masses, street lighting, removal of garbage, sanitary and healthcare facilities, registration of births and deaths in the area, maintenance of bridges and heritage buildings, operating schools on primary level, opening of dispensaries and health clinics, naming of streets and houses and many more.
There are also some discretionary functions that are carried out by the Municipal Corporation. These include conducting surveys, public entertainment, organizing public receptions, public exhibitions, to construct and maintain museums, libraries, public parks and gardens, planning and laying of areas, construction of orphanages, leper homes, rescue home for women and street children, rest houses and many more. The welfare and well being of the municipal employees is also taken care of by the Municipal Corporation. The Municipal Corporation has to work hand in hand with the State Government for effective implementation of the various plans and programs that are set up for the welfare of the common people. However, at times it has been seen that there are disputes between the State Government and the Municipal Corporation on the ways of working and management of funds. There are also many non-government organizations and agencies that work with the State Government as well as with the Municipal Corporation to ensure better services to the people.
Municipal Councils
The role and functions of the Municipal Councils are similar to Municipal Corporations. The only difference is the area that is covered by each of them. While a Municipal Corporation takes care of a large area, municipal councils work for a comparatively smaller area. The Municipal Councils are governed directly by State statutes. The municipal councils vary from one state to other depending on the size and population of the state.The members, who are an integral part of the Municipal Council, are its President, the Committee and the Chief or the Executive Officer. The President is elected from among the councilors and can be approached for any required help. The term of the President also varies from one to three years and is not the same as that of the council. Both deliberative and executive powers are vested in the President of the municipal council. The tenure of the councilors in the municipal councils varies from three to five years, in accordance to the municipal acts that are passed for the individual state. The municipal councils also have discretionary and obligatory functions that have to be carried out and are almost similar to the functions of Municipal Corporations and Municipalities.
With passage of time, new steps have been taken up to update and upgrade the municipal system in the country. Many modern mechanisms have been applied to these local bodies to that their efficient functioning is ensured. Quality of work has also been emphasized in the various agendas and acts that have been brought forward by the local administrative bodies.
