Relevance : GS Paper II
Over 25 years after the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments, very little and actual progress has been made in this direction.
Promise of local governance remains unfulfilled
- Local governments remain mere agents to do the bidding of higher level governments.
- Devolution, envisioned by the Constitution, is not mere delegation as practised.
- Local governments are made to report to to higher level departments instead of voters.
Key issues with local governments
- money set apart for them is inadequate
- much of the money given is inflexible
- there is little investment in enabling them to raise their own taxes
- they do not have the staff to perform even basic tasks.
- as most staff are hired by higher level departments, they do not feel responsible to the local govts,
- violation of the constitutional mandate of five yearly elections to local governments.
- the current Union government has further centralised service delivery by using technology.
- The ‘Smart City’ programme does not devolve its funds to the municipalities.
- Criminal elements win elections through bribing voters.
- Corrupt partnership between elected representatives and officials at all levels.
Suggestions for local governments
- Gram sabhas and wards committees in urban areas have to be revitalised.
- Local government organisational structures have to be strengthened.. Local governments must be enabled to hold State departments accountable.
- The connection between tax payment and higher accountability is well known. Thus, taxation power of local govts needs to be stregthened.
Conclusion
It is important to tell higher level governments to stay away as it is for us to hold our local governments to account.
