what is the rationale for decentralization of power ? explain the structure of rural local government in India.
Answers
Answer:
(1) (i) The rationale behind decentralisation is to ensure community participation for proper growth and development of the community itself. It is aimed to ensure social, economic and political development of the community.
(ii) It is also oriented to ensure no or less interferences in the local affairs by the Union and State executive bodies. It has been executed to make village ‘Little Republic’.
(2) Following are the functions of the rural local government :
(i) Supply of water for domestic use.
(ii) Maintaining public health and sanitation.
(iii) Construction and repairing of public roads.
(iv) Lighting on roads and public places.
(v) Construction, repairing and maintaining public buildings, grazing lands, forest, public wells and tanks in good conditions.
Answer:
When power is taken away from Central and State governments and given to local government, it is called decentralisation. Decentralisation of power rational in democracy in because it enables peoples' participation in affairs of the state and their locality.
Explanation:
Structure of Rural Local Government of India
The institution of rural local government of India is as old as civilization and it was called Village Panchayat. They were performing regulatory functions and adjudicating civil disputes. After independence, the Constitution of India provided for establishment of local bodies and Panchayati Raj under article 40 (directive principles of state policy) as a subject with the states but did not further elaborate upon its structure, functions and other details.
The introduction of Panchayati Raj in the sixties was a major step towards institution building process in promoting people’s participation in rural development. In the mid-sixties, the funding for Community Development Projects dried up and panchayats stagnated. In 1979 – 80 the District Rural Development Agency was established at district level, development institution jointly registered by the Union and State Governments in each district and societies.
The 73rd amendment of Indian Constitution in 1992 ushered in the present phase where panchayats are described as institutions of Local-self government. Presently there are approximately 250,000 Gram Panchayats, 6500 Panchayats Samitis and 500 Zilla Parishads.