Question

Describe the structure of local government in rural and urban areas.

Answer 1

Answer:

1) Rural local self-government is popularly known by the name Panchayati Raj. It has a three tier system.

(i) The Gram Sabha : The Gram Sabha which is not a tier of Panchayati Raj is the general body consisting of all the voters residing in the jurisdiction of a Gram Panchayat. The Gram Sabha is supposed to work as the watchdog ofthe Gram Panchayat which is its executive body.

(ii) Gram Panchayat: The Gram Panchayat is the first tier in the Panchayat Raj System. It is constituted for one village or group of villages.

(iii) Panchayat Samiti : The intermediate tier in the Panchayati Raj System is known as the Panchayat Samiti. It is constituted for two or more Gram Panchayats at the block level.

(iv) Zilla Parishad. This is the top tier of Panchayati Raj constituted at the district level by the Panchayat Samitis or mandals. Most members of the Zilla Parishad are elected.

2) Like Panchayati Raj at rural areas, local bodies exist for urban areas as well. The structure is like :

(i) Municipal Corporations. Big cities have municipal corporations. It is the top most urban local government. The political head of the municipal corporation is known as Mayor.

Its main functions are :

=> Supply of wholesome water

=> Supply of electricity

=> Road transport services,

=> Establishment of hospitals maternity and Child welfare centres etc.

=> It has also the discretionary functions like

• Construction of public parks

• Gardens

• Libraries

• Public housing

• Registration of marriages

• Surveys of buildings and lands etc.

(ii) Municipalities. Municipalities are set up in towns. They are controlled by elected bodies consisting of people’s representatives. Municipal Chairperson is the political head of the municipality.

=> The functions of a municipality and of a municipal corporation are more or less identical.

The urban local bodies get various type of grants from the state and central governments.

Answer 2

Answer:

Local government:  

• The system or pattern by which the federal government assigns duties and authority to subordinate organisations is referred to as local government structure.

• The single tier and multi tier local government structures are the two types available.

Structure of local government in rural areas:

• The Panchayati Raj is another name for the rural local government.

• The Gram Panchayat, which is at the village level, the Panchayat Samiti, which is at the block level, and the Zila Parishad, which is at the district level make up the three tiers of the system.

• Building and maintaining bridges, wells, tanks, sewers, and roadways, providing fresh water for drinking, cleaning up the streets and roadways, delivering elementary education are the function of rural areas.

• The district level is the highest level of local governance. A panchayat samiti, block, or mandal is what is commonly referred to as a collection of gramme panchayats.

• All of the Panchayat members in that region vote to choose the members of this representative body.

• The zilla (district) parishad is made up of each mandal or panchayat in a district. The majority of the zilla parishad's members are elected.

Structure of local government in urban areas:

• The council, standing committees, and commissioner are the additional three authorities that make up this system.

• Municipalities are typically available in smaller cities.

• The Municipalities are also referred to as the Municipal Committee, Municipal Board, Municipal Council, etc.

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