Local Self Government | Indian Civics - Historical Background | 9th Social Science : Civics: Local Self Government
Chapter: 9th Social Science : Civics: Local Self Government
Historical Background
Historical Background
The idea of local self government
is a very old concept in
India. It was at its peak under the later Cholas or the Imperial Cholas
of Tanjore. There are historical records of references to local self government under Mauryan administration. Local self government existed throughout the country with its own diverse
characteristics of ancient India. During the medieval period,
local self governments had somewhat declined
due to the onslaught of feudalism. It was revived during the British
period in the last quarter
of the 19th century, with Western orientation of training in democracy
with Lord Ripon’s Resolution in 1882. Lord Ripon was known as
the ‘Father of Local Government for laying
the
foundations of local self governments in modern times.
Under the Government
of India Act, 1935 provincial autonomy was introduced. This Act came into force in 1937. In the provinces where the
Congress formed its Government, rural development
received special attention. It was an essential part of Gandhi’s
programme that Panchayat Raj institutions would be built from villages to the
highest level.
After Independence, the Gandhian
ideal of Grama Swaraj (Village
Republic) greatly influenced
the constitution makers. India
being the land of villages, the creation
of village panchayats became
a social movement. Restoration
of panchayats has become an article
of faith during our freedom struggle. Hence with the dawn of independence and framing
of the constitution of India, Article 40 was incorporated in the constitution which reads as: “the State should take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority
as may be necessary to enable them to function as the units
of self Governments.”
Lord Ripon
Lord Ripon was the one who gave Indians the
first taste of freedom by introducing the Local Self Government in 1882.
Ripon took some steps towards liberalizing
the administration in India. He formulated the local
He tried to remove obstacles in the sphere of Local Self government by his resolution of 1882. He led a series of enactments in which larger powers of the local self-government were given to the rural and urban bodies and the elected people received wider rights.
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