Activity

Meet your Panchayat President / Municipal Chairman and discuss with him how the local self goverment is being administered.

I met with the Municipal Chairman, and this is what he told me:

1. Local governments have become more powerful over time, but they do not have the required funds to exercise their powers. Since the local governments collect very few taxes on their own, and are dependent on the state government for money, the state can cripple them by disbanding funds or not giving enough for their functioning.

2. Ward members are considered more close to people than MLAs or MPs. They often wield great love and power among people, who support them election after election, and also help them to rise to offices in state and national governments.

3. Since municipalities supply water, they are at the centre of an ever-growing water crisis in the country. However, they have little expertise or technical know-how to deal with depleting water table. So, they are completely dependent on water tanks. This is a sad affair and must be redressed at the earliest.

4. Local governments are often infiltrated by local goons, who use their power to further their own causes.

5. Local governments have started improving, with establishment of ombudsman and ethics committees, and a hyper aware public. Also, Twitter and Facebook have played role in initiating healthy growth of these self-governments.