Abstract
The local administrative system in India is divided into rural governance (panchayati raj) and urban governance. The 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments have changed this system significantly, enabling rural and urban governance to function more effectively. Local government, however, has been criticized for its inefficiency, poor service delivery, and mismanagement. Fortunately, scholars have overwhelmingly advocated for an efficient democratic local government as a tool for socio-economic development in India, as it has been widely argued that local people understand their particular problems more than do others and are thus better positioned to address their problems in substantial ways. To this end, local government should improve its functioning and efficiency. In India, the conditions of service of local government employees are established through acts passed by the state legislatures, constitutional provisions, and the relevant ministries or departments. The interpretation and implementation of these conditions of service are left to the state government and local government authorities as per the respective acts and laws. Local governance needs to step up its activity to ensure improved service delivery, taking into consideration the local needs and demands.
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Notes
- 1.
Local government is a subject included in the state list under the 7th schedule of the constitution.
- 2.
Caste stratification exists especially among the Hindus. This is a social situation specific to India. It has left the Dalits not only economically backward but also socially vulnerable. Due to their degraded social status, the Dalits are still treated worse than animals in many parts of the country. This social milieu acts as an obstacle in ensuring the participation of Dalits in developmental activities (for detailed elaboration of the issue see Suryakant Waghmore 2002). In several Indian states, there has been a sharp increase in violent manifestations of casteism ever since the local government system began functioning. When the PRIs have been seen by the upper castes as the tool for the lower castes to assert their right as individuals living in a democratic polity, the lower castes have become targets of caste-based discrimination and violence. This rising unrest at the local level has become a common phenomenon.
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Wasnik, J.G. (2019). The Local Administrative System in India. In: Jamil, I., Dhakal, T., Paudel, N. (eds) Civil Service Management and Administrative Systems in South Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90191-6_12
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