Municipalities in India

Municipalities in India

Urban Local Government

Meaning

• The term 'Urban Local Government' in India signifies the governance of an urban area by the people through their elected representatives.

Types of Urban Local Government

There are eight types of urban local government in India—

(a) Municipal corporation,        (b)  Municipality,

(c) Notified area committee,     (d)  Town area committee,

(e) Cantonment board,              (f)   Township,

(g) Port trust                               (h)  Special purpose agency.

Constitutionalisation

• The system of urban government was constitutionalised through the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992.

• This Act has added a new Part-IX-A to the Constitution. This part is entitled 'The Municipalities' and consists of provisions from Articles 243-P to 243-ZG.

• The Act has also added a new Twelfth Schedule to the Constitution. This Schedule contains eighteen functional items of municipalities and deals with Article 243-W.

• PART IX A gives a constitutional foundation to the local self-government units in urban areas.

• Most provisions for municipalities are similar to those contained in PART IX, e.g., Structure, Reservation of Seats, Functions, Sources of Income, etc.

Types of Municipalities

The act provides three types of municipalities in every state:

1. NagarPanchayat: This is for an area being transformed from a rural area to an urban area.

2. Municipal Council: This is for a smaller urban area.

3. Municipal Corporation: This is for a larger urban area. The municipal corporation is the topmost urban local government.

Membership and Representation

The members of a municipality are generally elected by direct election. The Legislature of a State can provide for representation in municipalities of:

• Persons having special knowledge or experience in municipal administration.

• Members of Lok Sabha, State Assembly, Rajya Sabha, and Legislative Council.

• The Chairpersons of Ward Committees.

Note: If the population is 3 lacs or more, Ward Committees are constituted.

Committees for Development Planning

Two Committees constituted for preparing development plans are:

• A District Planning Committee at the district level.

• A Metropolitan Planning Committee at the metropolis level.

Final Thoughts

Urban Local Government is a crucial system that ensures citizens participate directly in governance through elected representatives.

The 74th Constitutional Amendment provides a strong constitutional foundation for municipalities, ensuring democratic decentralization in urban areas. By creating three types of municipalities—Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council, and Municipal Corporation—the Act addresses urban governance for areas of varying population sizes.

Direct elections empower citizens to select representatives, while reserved seats and special representation promote inclusivity and expertise. The establishment of District Planning Committees and Metropolitan Planning Committees ensures that development planning is coordinated and efficient.