Contemporary Issues

Contemporary Issues

There are many issues which are highlighted by the experts in the field of local governance from time to time. The main issues brought out by the experts are provided in the following section. First there is considerable expansion in responsibilities of local governments, which were previously state government responsibilities.

Taking into account the capacities of the levels of government and the line of control, throughout government apparatus should be considered and reclassification of list is needed. Second, maintenance of village courts is also an important issue, where the policing is state wise centralized, which can not entrusted practically to the local governments.

Third, urban local bodies are entrusted with many functions out of which many of them are connection with the state government departments.

In sum, the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts brought reforms in local government in India. The rural and urban local bodies prior to the reforms were the creation of the British. Many new and innovative changes were brought in the amendments. So far only 18 states in India have ratified or approved the amendments in their legislative assemblies, which is required as per the law. In addition, many state government even after enacting the amendments and ratified them, have not put in to operation many provisions, because of the issues mentioned above. Unless these issues are resolved, the objectives for which the 73rd and 74th amendments were made, could not realized.