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The term of the president of Grama Panchayat is 30 months.

Distribution of constitutional powers from union level to village level is called democratic decentralisation The importance of local governments is so paramount that it is called the “Primary school of democracy”.

1. Welfare state: Modern states are welfare states. If the overall development of the state is to take place; the development of local governments is very vital. Because national progress can’t be divorced from rural progress.

2. Cradle of Democracy: A citizen, not aware of the working of democracy is a burden on the nation. In local governments, people are introduced to functioning of democracy step by step and over a period of time they learn the nuances of democracy. Democracy can survive only when majority of the masses living in rural areas participate. That’s why local governments are called “cradles of democracy”;

3. Power to the People: The other name of local government is power of the people; the local governments take power to the doorsteps of the people and empower them not only identify problems but also to solve them.

4. Knowledge of Administration: Local governments aim at imparting knowledge of administration to locals, though the local people are aware of the government, they are not aware of the working of administration. But when interacted with officials, due to proximity, they get working knowledge of administration.

5. Local Solutions: The basic principle of local government is, local problems must be solved at the local level. The centre or state government can’t understand local problems due to paucity of time, interest and information. But locals can, based on experience, identify suitable solutions to problems.

Grama Panchayat will receive an annual grant of one lakh rupees for developmental activities. The Grama Panchayat levy taxes on buildings and lands, may level water rate. It may also levy a tax on entertainment, vehicles, advertisement and boardings fee on buses, etc.

The term of the president of Taluk Panchayat is 20 months.

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palika.

Rajastan has first implemented local self-government in India.

74^th constitutional amendment act relates to urban local bodies.

The 74^th constitutional amendment act which came into effect in 1993 can be explained as its provisions as below.

1. The state government can conduct the elections. 

2. It ensures a firm relation between state government and urban local bodies with regards to taxation powers and revenue sharing. 

3. It provides adequate reservation facilities to SG, ST, Backward class and women. 

4. The state government has power to legislate about reservation in urban local bodies.

5. The members should elect directly by the residents who are living in urban area. 

6. The tenure of the urban local bodies in 5 years. 

7. Elections shall be held within 6 months from the date of dissolution. 

8. Members of parliament and assembly are the ex-officio members of urban local bodies. 

9. The state government can nominate 5 members to the urban local bodies. 

10. The state government has power to prepare plan for economic and social development. 

11. State finance commission has been established to review the finances of urban local bodies.

The 73^rd constitutional amendment act which came in to force on 1993 can be explained its provisions as below:

1. 73^rd constitutional amendment act provides reservation to SC, ST, Backward class women. 

2. The Panchayats can mobilize their revenue sources. 

3. Elections should be need within 6 months. 

4. The power to constitution of committees is rests with the state government. 

5. Members of parliament and assembly are enjoying the membership in Panchayats. 

6. The members of Panchayats have to elect by the elections. 

7. The age limit to contest the election is fixed to 21 years. 

8. The state election commission is the authority to conduct the elections. 

9. The Panchayats have power to impose tax. 

10. State finance commission has been established to review the finances of Panchayats. 

11. Panchayats can prepare and enforce the plans for economic and social development.

The members are directly elected by the people.

The Balwanth Rai Mehtha Committee was established in 1956 to suggest ways and means to strengthen the local government system in India. The committee submitted its report in 1957 in which it suggested a three-tier Panchayat Raj System with Village Panchayat at the village level, Taluk Panchayat at the Taluk level and Zilla Panchayat at the district level. It also advocated decentralization of power and participation of locals on local matters. To realize the dream of Panchayat raj system in India, Rajasthan and Karnataka states implemented the Panchayat raj system.

Chief Executive Officer.

Members of Taluk Panchayat cast their votes.

The members are directly elected by the people.

The Ashok Mehta Committee was established in 1977. The committee submitted its report in 1978 in which it nearly made a hundred recommendations, some of which are listed as follows: decentralization of powers, taxing power to Panchayat institutions, participation of political parties in Panchayat system, protection to weaker sections and a two-tier Panchayat raj system.

73^rd constitutional amendment act relates to rural local bodies.

Members of Zilla Panchayat elects.

The term of the president of Zilla Panchayat is 30 months.

Functions of corporation: The functions of corporation may be broadly classified into 3 groups:

1. General functions 

2. Compulsory functions 

3. Optional functions

1. General functions: The 1976 Act stipulates certain general functions to the corporation. These functions are routine in nature.

• Management of administration of the corporation 
• Preparation of budget 
• Seek approval of budget

2. Compulsory Functions: The corporation is duty bound to perform certain functions designated as compulsory. 

The following are the compulsory functions of corporation.

• Construction and conservation of public roads and streets. 
• Providing electricity to public roads, streets, and markets 
• Making arrangements for conservancy, drainage, and removal of garbage. 
• Providing safe drinking water and water for other purposes. 
• Naming and numbering of roads. 
• Construction and maintenance of pubic markets. 
• Prevent diseases through effective public health system 
• Control over construction of buildings through effective clearance system. 
• Prevent adulteration of food products , milk, and pharmaceuticals. 
• Registaration and maintenance of birth and death records. 
• Establishment and maintenance of primary schools. 
• Planting and conservation of saplings.
• Construction and maintenance of public gardens and playgrounds. 
• Construction and maintenance of burial grounds. 
• Protection of public property and public monuments.

3.Optional functions: Optional functions are discretionary in nature. They can be undertaken only if the time and money permits. 

The following are the optional functions of the corporations.

• Establishment of an efficient transport system. 
• Establish associations for the welfare of orphans and the destitute. 
• Establishment and maintenance of child welfare centers. 
• Construction and conservation of swimming pools and bathing Ghats. 
• Conduct surveys of land and buildings. 
• Construction and maintenance of museums, art galleries, and gardens with district plants. 
• Establishment and maintenance of hospitals for animals. 
• Raise money for providing relief during natural calamities such as earthquake, drought, etc., 
• Improve slums by developing them. 
• Construct houses for the poor, homeless and the destitute. 
• Construction and maintenance of water troughs for animals. 
• Support environment.

• Profession, fairs, festivals. 
• Rent from its land and property.

• Local self-governing bodies can work successfully under the Mowing conditions. 
• Absence of wide economic disparities .among the members of these communities. 
• The bodies must have adequate financial resources available to them. Ethnic homogeneity in their membership is another condition for their success.

Zilla panchayats are constituted in Karnataka at a district level to look after the development of the district. According to Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act 1993 the number of members will be decided on the basis of population of the district. For every 40,000 population is represented by one member. The members are directly elected by the voters for a period of 5 years.

Functions of Zilla panchayat: Zilla panchayat is the nodal point of all developmental activities of the district.

Following are the functions of Zilla panchayat:

• Supervision co-ordination, direction and integrating development work at the district level. 
• Conservation and development of agriculture and horticulture. 
• Land development and soil conservation. 
• Building and conservation of irrigational works. 
• Encourage animal husbandry, dairy development, and poultry. 
• Encourage rural cottage industries. 
• Construction of district roads, buildings, and other communication facilities . 
• Support small-scale industries. 
• Establishment and maintenance of Public distribution system (PDS)
• Electrification of rural areas. 
• Encourage co-operative activities. 
• Implementation of health and family welfare programmes. 
• Establishment and maintenance of primary and high schools. 
• Planning and supervision of poverty alleviation programmes. 
• Encourage rural cottage industries. 
• Take up any work as directed by the state government under Panchayat Raj Act.

Powers of the President:

• To call, preside and conduct the meetings of Zilla Panchayat. 
• Implement decisions of Zilla Panchayat through supervision and control. 
• The president may sanction to the tune of Rs. 1,00,000 in case of natural claims subjects to the approval of Zilla Panchayat. 
• In case of his absence due to resignation, removal or death, the responsibilities are looked after by the Vice president.

1. There is administrative convenience when the administration is looked after by the local self-govt. Local people can understand and manage local affairs better than the govt. 

2. This would help to solve the local problems quickly and easily. 

3. It brings administrative efficiency and economy in administration. The local people can deal with these matters efficiently spending less money.

1. It is territorial means it is of a particular locality. Usually, the areas demarcated for local bodies are village, block, district block, etc.

2. Functional: Local self-govt are functional bodies. Their functions restricted to a particular area or locality.

3. They are non-sovereign bodies: These bodies like village panchayats, town municipal councils, and city corporations are not independent and sovereign. They are subordinates to Central or State govt.

4. They enjoy autonomy to some extent: Autonomy is given to them by Central or State Govt. Their powers and functions and jurisdictions are clearly determined by the Act of Law. which establishes them.

Under the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act 1993, there shall be constituted for each district a Zilla Panchayat, having jurisdiction over the entire district. These members shall be elected directly from each taluk. Each Zilla Panchayat consists of

1. Elected members 

2. MPs and MLAs representing constituencies in districts. 

3. Members of Rajyasabha and MLC’s registered as electors in districts. 

4. Presidents (Adhyakshyas) of Taluk Panchayats.

All these members are entitled to take part in the proceedings and vote at the meetings of Zilla Panchayats. Seats are reserved for SC’s and ST’s on the basis of population, in district.

The elected members of Zilla Panchayat hold office for 5 years. The Zilla Panchayat shall meet once in 2 months. 1/3 of local members constitute quorum.

The recommendations of Balawantharai Mehta Committee, accepted by National Development Council in 1958. The first state to introduce Panchayat Raj was Rajasthan in 1959. According to Nehru, the system is the most revolutionary and historical step in context of modem India. People in rural India were so happy and began to feel that they had a say in the affairs of their own locality. During this time, there was massive development of Panchayat Raj institutions. More than 217 to 300 village Panchayats were established.

1. Increasing tendency towards centralisation on the part of both central and state government. 

2. Meagre resources available to the Panchayats. 

3. Corruption and inefficiency in the working of the Panchayat Raj institutions. 

4. Domination of economically and socially forward classes.

Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat and Gram Panchayat.