LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

Local self-government means management of local affairs by such local bodies as have been elected by the people living in that particular locality. The Charter Act of 1793 put the municipal institution on a statutory basis. The Governor-General was el1}powered to appoint Justices of Peace in the presidency towns. The Indian Council Act of 1851 inaugurated the policy of legislative devolution and Mayo's Resolution of 1870 on financial decentralisation was a natural corollary. The provincial governments were authorised to resort to local taxation to balance their budgets. Ripon's viceroyalty saw the liberalisation of ad­ministration in every sphere. The Resolution of 1882 stands out as a landmark in the development of local self­government. Ripon desired the provincial governments to apply in case of local bodies, the same principle of finan decentralisation which Mayo's Government had bet towards them. The provincial governments were asked undertake a careful survey of provincial, local and murl pal finances.

In 1908, the entire subject of local self-government reviewed by the Royal Commission on Oecentralisation a important recommendations were made almost in evi sphere. The Commission laid emphasis on the -developmi of village panchayats and sub-district boards. Regarding municipalities, the commission urged the withdrawal
existing restrictions on their powers of taxation and a! stoppage of regular grants-in-aid from provincial govel ments except for undertaking large projects such as thJ concerning drainage or water supply. It suggested tl} municipalities might undertake the responsibility for pI mary education, hospitals, famine relief, etc.

The historic announcement of August 20, 1917, ma the government review the functioning of the local se government. It suggested that the local bodies should
made as representative as possible of the people. Regarding the village panchayats, the resolution stated that the local bodies could not be looked upon as mere mechanic, adjuncts of local self-government but as associations designed signed to develop village corporate life, keeping in miIi.l social and traditional realities. The provincial government were urged to make an effective beginning towards deve!
opment of village panchayats.

With the coming of the Government of India Act 191 local self-government became a 'transferred' subject und popular ministerial control. Each province was allowed to
develop local self-governments according to their needs and requirement. By the Government of India Act, 1935 furth
impetus was given to the development.