The Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS) 2023, conducted by Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, a non-profit entity, presents several obstacles faced by Indian Local Governments.
Focal Points of the ASICS Report
The ASICS report reveals numerous significant findings. It is observed that eastern states such as Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal have comparatively superior urban legislations than southern states. However, it points out that urban legislation information lacks transparency with only 49% of states/Union Territories maintaining municipal laws on their urban department websites.
Moreover, it uncovers that approximately 39% of Indian capital cities do not have an active functioning master plan. The financial independence of local governments in Indian cities is considerably restricted, with control over key financial matters being heavily reliant on approval from state governments.
Differential Power Control in City Categories
The ASICS report also highlights asymmetry in power control across city categories. There are considerable disparities between megacities and large, medium, and small-sized cities with regards to influence over finances. Furthermore, issues are encountered concerning limited authority over staff appointments, resulting in accountability and administrative efficiency challenges.
Transparency and Staffing Challenges
The ASICS report argues the need for improvement in financial transparency due to a lack of regular financial statement audits. With larger cities possessing more pronounced issues, only 28% of cities present their annual audited financial statements for public viewing. Moreover, a significant shortage of staff is noted with 35% of jobs in municipal corporations remaining vacant.
Comparison with Global Metropolises
On comparison with global metropolises like New York, London, and Johannesburg, Indian cities exhibit striking differences in city staff count per one lakh population. This discrepancy extends not just to staffing but also administrative powers granted to these cities.
Local Self-Government: An Overview
Local self-government comprises governing bodies elected by local residents. The Local Self Government includes both rural and urban government. It is the third tier of government with two operational systems – panchayats in rural areas and municipalities in urban areas.
Rural Local Governments – Panchayati Raj Institution
Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI), a system of rural local self-government in India, was constitutionalized through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992. Essentially, it aimed to propagate democracy at the grassroots level focusing on rural development.
Urban Local Governments
Urban Local Governments, established for democratic decentralization, vary across types, including Municipal Corporation, Municipality, Notified Area Committee, Town Area Committee, Cantonment Board, township, port trust, special purpose agency. The 74th Amendment Act related to urban local government came into force on June 1, 1993.
Enhancement of Local Governance in Indian Cities
The ASICS report suggests measures for enhancing local governance in Indian cities. They include strengthening fiscal autonomy, decentralization of administrative powers, transparency and community engagement. Furthermore, adopting successful strategies from global peers, promoting citizen feedback mechanisms, and implementing e-governance tools can significantly contribute to good governance.
An instance where these concepts have been tested was on the UPSC Civil Services Examination, where a previous year’s question asked, “Local self-government can be best explained as an exercise in?” The answer being, “Democratic decentralisation.”
