Local GovernmentsClass 11 India Constitution At Work NCERT Solutions
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Q1Exercises
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.
Solution
These situations have varying impacts on the strength of panchayats as units of self-government:
a. Steel Plant Resolution: This situation strengthens the panchayat. By passing a resolution and demanding consultation, the Gram Sabha is asserting its right to participate in decisions that affect the local community. This reflects the principle of local self-government, where local people have a say in their own affairs and development. It is similar to the Vengaivasal village case mentioned in the chapter, where the panchayat fought to protect its local interests against higher authorities.
b. 20% Expenditure through Panchayats: This decision strengthens the panchayats significantly. One of the major weaknesses of local governments identified in the chapter is their financial dependence on state and central governments. Earmarking a substantial portion of government expenditure to be routed through panchayats provides them with financial autonomy and resources to plan and execute local development projects according to their own priorities.
c. Funds for School Building Denied: This situation weakens the panchayat. It highlights the lack of real autonomy and the continued control of state bureaucracy over local bodies. Even though subjects like education are in the Eleventh Schedule, the inability of the panchayat to secure funds for a critical need shows that the transfer of powers and funds is often only on paper. This makes the panchayat an implementing agency for schemes decided by others, not a unit of self-government.
d. Village Divided and Abolished: This action weakens the panchayat to the point of extinction. It demonstrates that the ultimate power over the very existence of a local government unit still rests with the state government. A unit of self-government cannot be considered truly autonomous if it can be unilaterally dissolved or restructured by a higher level of government without local consent.
e. Reviving Water Sources: This situation strengthens the panchayat. It showcases proactive local governance and community participation. The panchayat identified a local problem (water depletion) and mobilized local resources (village youth) to find a solution. This is an excellent example of a panchayat functioning as an effective and self-reliant unit of self-government, addressing local needs with local initiative.
Q2Exercises
Suppose you are entrusted to evolve a local government plan of a State, what powers would you endow to the village panchayats to function as units of self-government? Mention any five powers and the justification in two lines for each of them for giving those powers.
Solution
To make village panchayats effective units of self-government, I would endow them with the following five powers:
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Power to Plan for Local Economic Development: This power would allow the panchayat to create development plans based on local needs and resources. The justification is that local people have the best knowledge of their problems and priorities, ensuring that development is relevant and has greater community acceptance.
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Power to Levy and Collect Local Taxes: This would provide panchayats with their own source of revenue, reducing their financial dependence on the state government. The justification is that financial autonomy is crucial for effective functioning and decision-making, as dependence on grants erodes their capacity to operate independently.
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Full Control over Subjects in the Eleventh Schedule: This would involve the complete transfer of functions, funds, and functionaries related to the 29 subjects. The justification is that without genuine transfer of these subjects, the panchayat's role remains symbolic; this power would enable them to effectively manage local welfare and development in areas like health, education, and sanitation.
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Power to Manage Local Natural Resources: This power would give the panchayat authority over common resources like village land, water bodies, and minor forests. The justification, as seen in the Vengaivasal case, is that control over local resources is essential for protecting local interests and ensuring sustainable development planned by the community itself.
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Power to Approve and Monitor all Government Schemes in its Area: This would make the panchayat the nodal agency for all development work within the village, ensuring accountability. The justification is that this would prevent the bypassing of the panchayat by state agencies and ensure that all development work aligns with the village's overall plan and priorities.
Q3Exercises
What are the provisions for the reservations for the socially disadvantaged groups as per the 73rd amendment? Explain how these provisions have changed the profile of the leadership at the village level.
Solution
The 73rd constitutional amendment made significant provisions for the reservation of seats for socially disadvantaged groups to ensure their representation in local government.
Provisions for Reservation:
- Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs): Seats are reserved for SCs and STs in all three tiers of Panchayati Raj institutions. The number of reserved seats is in direct proportion to their population in that panchayat area.
- Women: Not less than one-third of the total number of seats in all panchayat institutions are reserved for women.
- Chairperson Positions: The reservation policy also applies to the positions of Chairpersons (Adhyakshas/Sarpanchas) at all three levels. This ensures that people from disadvantaged groups not only become members but also hold leadership positions.
- Reservation within Reservation: The one-third reservation for women also applies within the seats reserved for SCs and STs. This means a seat can be reserved for a Dalit woman or an Adivasi woman, ensuring intersectional representation.
- Other Backward Classes (OBCs): The amendment allows state legislatures to make provisions for reserving seats for backward classes if they deem it necessary.
Change in the Profile of Leadership:
These provisions have fundamentally changed the profile of leadership at the village level.
- Increased Representation: The social composition of local bodies has become more representative of the country's social reality. Over 13 lakh women and about 6.6 lakh members from SC and ST communities are now elected to these bodies every five years.
- Empowerment of Women: A large number of women have occupied leadership positions, including over 80,000 women Sarpanchas. This has given them a greater understanding of politics, control over resources, and has brought a new perspective and sensitivity to local governance.
- Challenging Social Hierarchies: The presence of leaders from SC, ST, and women communities has challenged the traditional dominance of upper castes and men in village politics. This has sometimes led to social tension but has also deepened democracy by giving power to those who were historically excluded.
Q4Exercises
What were the main differences between the local governments before 73rd amendment and after that amendment?
Solution
The 73rd Amendment of 1992 fundamentally transformed the status and structure of local governments in India. The main differences are as follows:
| Feature | Before 73rd Amendment (Before 1993) | After 73rd Amendment (After 1993) |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Status | Local government was a subject in the Directive Principles of State Policy, which was non-justiciable and advisory. There was no constitutional obligation for states to have elected local bodies. | Local governments were granted constitutional status. It became mandatory for all states to establish a Panchayati Raj system. |
| Structure | There was no uniform structure. States like Gujarat and Maharashtra had a system, but many others did not have effective or structured local bodies. | A uniform three-tier structure (Gram Panchayat, Mandal/Block Panchayat, Zilla Panchayat) was mandated across the country (except in smaller states). |
| Elections | Elections were often indirect, irregular, and could be postponed indefinitely by state governments. | Direct elections for all three levels were made mandatory. Elections must be held regularly every five years. |
| Tenure | There was no security of tenure. State governments could dissolve local bodies and not hold fresh elections for long periods. | A fixed five-year term was established. If a panchayat is dissolved prematurely, fresh elections must be held within six months. |
| Reservations | There were no constitutional provisions for the reservation of seats for women or socially disadvantaged groups. | It became mandatory to reserve one-third of seats for women, and seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in proportion to their population. |
| Powers and Finance | Local bodies had very limited powers and were heavily dependent on the state and central governments for funds, with no formal mechanism for financial devolution. | 29 subjects were identified in the Eleventh Schedule to be transferred to panchayats. State Finance Commissions were mandated to be set up every five years to review the financial position of local bodies and recommend devolution of funds. |
| Election Authority | Elections were conducted by the state administration, which was under the control of the state government. | Independent State Election Commissioners were to be appointed in each state to conduct free and fair panchayat elections. |
Q5Exercises
Read the following conversation. Write in two hundred words your opinion about the issues raised in this conversation. Alok: Our Constitution guarantees equality between men and women. Reservations in local bodies for women ensure their equal share in power. Neha: But it is not enough that women should be in positions of power. It is necessary that the budget of local bodies should have separate provision for women. Jayesh: I don't like this reservations business. A local body must take care of all people in the village and that would automatically take care of women and their interests.
Solution
This conversation raises critical issues about the effectiveness of reservations and the meaning of political empowerment. All three perspectives offer important insights.
Alok's statement correctly points out the constitutional basis and intent of reservations for women. As the chapter highlights, these reservations have been successful in ensuring the presence of over 13 lakh women in local bodies, a crucial first step towards political equality and representation.
Jayesh’s argument that a local body should care for everyone and thus automatically address women's interests is an idealistic but flawed view. It overlooks the deep-seated patriarchal structures in our society, which often lead to the neglect of women's specific needs and concerns. The history of governance in India shows that without reservations, power structures are rarely inclusive. The very need for the 73rd Amendment arose because dominant groups historically controlled local bodies.
Neha’s point is the most forward-looking. She argues that mere representation is not enough; it must be backed by financial power. A separate budgetary provision for women, or gender-budgeting, would translate representation into tangible outcomes. It would empower elected women representatives to implement programs addressing issues like women's health, education, and safety. This moves beyond symbolic presence to substantive power, addressing the concern mentioned in the chapter that women representatives can sometimes be mere proxies.
In my opinion, Alok's and Neha's arguments are complementary. While Alok's point about reservations is the necessary foundation for inclusion, Neha's suggestion for budgetary provisions is the essential next step to make that inclusion meaningful and effective. Jayesh's view, while well-intentioned, fails to acknowledge the ground realities of social inequality that reservations seek to correct.