Urban Local Governing Institutions in North-East India with Reference to Mizoram
| Published date | 01 July 2016 |
| Date | 01 July 2016 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0019556120160323 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
URBAN LOCAL GOVERNING INSTITUTIONS
IN NORTH-EAST INDIA WITH REFERENCE TO
MIZORAM
LALNEIHZOVI
The system
of
local governing institutions establishes public
authority, which is closer to the people
and
involves the local
people to solve the local problems. This system implies that
the management
of
local affairs should be entrusted to the
representatives
of
the people inhabiting the locality;
for
they
know best the local needs
and
aspirations. In 1992, keeping this
in view, the 7
4rh
Constitutional Amendment
Act
for
urban local
governance was
v,pt'ed
for
on the floor
of
Parliament
in
India.
Based
on this, the urban affairs have been administered
in
all
the states except
in
some parts
of
North-East India. This article
is
an attempt to study the working
of
urban local governing
institutions
in
India in general
and
Mizoram
in
particular.
INTRODUCTION
EFFECTIVE DEMOCRACY at the grassroots level can exist only when
there is an effective delegation
of
responsibilities to local governments,
1
along with building up local capacities in order to help them discharge
these responsibilities to the satisfaction and betterment
of
the citizens.
Effective govemance2 by urban local bodies, therefore, implies urban
bodies have a well-defined functional domain, generate adequate resources
to carry out their responsibilities, and impart a fair degree
of
transparency
and accountability in performing their functions. This process
is
simply
not functional
in
Indian cities, more so
in
the small and medium towns.
Instead, what is visible is the all-round breakdown
of
local governance
structures, poor access to basic services, poor financial management and
increasing alienation
of
the citizens from the government. In the recent
past there has been a conscious effort to strengthen and revitalise local self-
govemance
in
India through the
73rd
and
74ch
Constitutional Amendments.
The landmark legislations were aimed at greater clarity between states and
local governments in terms
of
devolution
of
adequate powers and resources
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