Local Self Government

Recently, the Supreme Court declared that State Election Commissions across the country cannot skip their constitutional obligation to conduct polls to Local Bodies every five years.

About Local Self Government:

• Local Self Government is the management of local affairs by such local bodies who have been elected by the local people.
• The local self-Government includes both rural and urban government.
• It is the third level of the government.
• There are 2 types of local government in operation – panchayatas in rural areas and Municipalities in urban areas.

Salient Features of 73rd Constitutional Amendment?

Compulsory Provisions:

• Organisation of Gram Sabhas;
• Creation of a three-tier Panchayati Raj Structure at the Zila, Block and Village levels;
• Almost all posts, at all levels to be filled by direct elections;
• Minimum age for contesting elections to the Panchayati Raj institutions be twenty one years;
• The post of Chairman at the Zila and Block levels should be filled by indirect election;
• There should be reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes in Panchayats, in proportion to their population, and for women in Panchayats up to one-third seats;
• State Election Commission to be set up in each State to conduct elections to Panchayati Raj institutions;
• The tenure of Panchayati Raj institutions is five years, if dissolved earlier, fresh elections to be held within six months;
• A State Finance Commission is set up in each State every five years.

Voluntary:

• Giving voting rights to members of the Central and State legislatures in these bodies;
• Providing reservation for backward classes; and
• The Panchayati Raj institutions should be given financial powers in relation to taxes, levy fees etc. and efforts shall be made to make Panchayats autonomous bodies