Subject: Indian Polity

The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments established a robust framework of local governance in India, creating a three-tier structure that serves as the backbone of grassroots democracy and development, managing approximately 2.6 lakh Panchayats and numerous municipalities across the country.

Role of Local Bodies in Good Governance

Administrative Efficiency:

• Direct implementation of welfare schemes like MGNREGA and Swachh Bharat Mission at grassroots level.
• Efficient resource allocation through participatory planning and budgeting.
• Last-mile delivery of essential services like sanitation, water supply, and primary healthcare.
• Plays crucial role during disaster response by mobilizing community support and implementing health protocols at the grassroots level.

Democratic Decentralization:

• Promotes citizen participation through Gram Sabhas and Ward Committees.
• Ensures representation of marginalized sections through reserved seats for SC/ST and women.
• Strengthens local leadership and political awareness.

Development Planning:

• Implementation of District Planning Committee (DPC) recommendations.
• The 15th Finance Commission allocated ₹4.36 lakh crore to local bodies for development.
• Focus on local needs through bottom-up planning approach.

Pros of Merging Rural and Urban Local Bodies

Administrative Integration:

• Unified planning and development approach.
• Better resource utilization and economies of scale.
• Services like water, drainage, and roads can be more efficiently managed across the transitioning regions.
• Helps manage peri-urban expansion, which is often unregulated due to jurisdictional overlaps.

Economic Benefits:

• Enhanced revenue generation capacity.
• Avoid duplication of infrastructure and administrative costs across rural and urban areas.
• Better access to urban amenities for rural areas.
• Merged systems may lead to faster integration of technology and data-driven governance in rural areas.

Cons of Merging Rural and Urban Local Bodies

Implementation Challenges:

• Failed mergers in Maharashtra (Mumbai and Pune cases) highlight resource and manpower struggles.
• Loss of rural development schemes, as seen in Tamil Nadu's reorganization opposition.
• Different governance needs of rural and urban areas.
• Integration may require new legal, financial, and institutional frameworks, leading to delays and inefficiencies.

Socio-Cultural Impact:

• Loss of rural identity and traditional governance systems.
• Reduced representation of rural interests.
• Urban areas may dominate fund allocation and decision-making, leaving rural pockets underfunded.

The success of local governance depends on striking a balance between efficiency and autonomy. While mergers can bring administrative advantages, the focus should be on strengthening existing structures through initiatives like the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and ensuring effective implementation of constitutional provisions under Articles 243G and 243W.