Importance of Local Self-Government in India
The local self-governmental institutions are the best centers for imparting democratic thoughts and education. People prefer democracy because they want to live in an environment of equality and liberty. In local self-government, the members have close and intimate contact with the local people. Local Self-government is known as Municipality and Municipal Corporation in Urban Areas.
The success of democracy depends on the decentralization of power. Through this system of local self-government, people can obtain their democratic rights. Through this system, power can be properly decentralized and every individual can get the scope to develop his or her personality fully and properly.
Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) is a system of rural local self-government in India. PRI was constitutionalized through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 to build democracy at the grassroots level and was entrusted with the task of rural development in the country. The local self-governmental institutions are the best centers for imparting democratic thoughts and education. People prefer democracy because they want to live in an environment of equality and liberty.
The local self-government creates that scope for enjoying democracy. It is through these local self-governments that the local problems can be considered and solved adequately and properly. It also reduces the heavy responsibilities of the central and state governments and establishes democracy in a wider context.
Apart from raising public awareness about the centrally sponsored schemes, it performs its obligatory functions such as water supply, drainage system, and women and child development. In addition, municipalities can raise their funds through taxes, fees, fines, etc. Since the members of the local self-government are local people, they can realize and understand the gravity of local problems more seriously than the administrators of the State or Central government and can properly solve them.
In local self-government, the members have close and intimate contact with the local people. Naturally, it remains rather free from corruption and acts with real social welfare motif. Local self-government means that residents in towns, villages, and rural settlements are the hosts of their own homes. People elect local councils and their heads authorizing them to solve the most important issues.
To implement various economic planning at local and regional levels the local self-government institutions are far more helpful than the state or central government. It also inspires the local people to actively participate in various governmental activities. Types of Local Self Government
The Local Self-government generally unites the people with democracy and encourages them to participate in its activities without any bias or prejudice. Naturally, it can consolidate the political values and faith of ordinary people and thereby influences the political activities and political culture of the people.
Moreover, both the central and the state governments can make various administrative experiments through these local self-governments. Local self-government denotes the right and the ability of local authorities, within the limits of the law, to regulate and manage a substantial share of public affairs under their own responsibility and in the interests of the local population.
It thus enables ordinary people to take part or make active participation in the lowest level of administration. Naturally, the political socialization of local people becomes possible.
Moreover, the local self-government is conducive to equality and liberty and the perfect medium for satisfying the needs and grievances of the people at the local and regional levels.