Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 Notes Grassroots Democracy Part 3: Local Government in Urban Areas
→ Urban Local Bodies: Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are local government institutions Responsible for managing city infrastructure, services, and development. They play α crucial role in ensuring efficient governance and addressing the specific needs of urban populations.
→ Wards: Wards are subdivisions within cities or towns, managed by Urban Local Bodies. Each ward has a committee that addresses local issues such as sanitation, infrastructure maintenance, and community welfare, ensuring that governance is decentralised; and more responsive to residents’ needs.
Learning Objectives
- Understand about the functioning of Urban Local Bodies
- Example of Urban Local Bodies
Introduction
In a democracy, good governance is ensuring that citizens can actively participate in their country’s decision-making processes. This principle is known as participatory democracy, meaning people are involved in shaping their communities, whether they live in rural villages or bustling cities. While we have already explored how this works in rural areas, it is important to understand that urban areas present their own unique challenges.
Cities are often more diverse and complex, so their governance systems need to be well structured to manage these complexities. In this section, we will examine the basic principles of urban governance and how it fits into the broader framework of India’s governance system, from villages to the national level.
Urban Local Bodies
In cities and towns, local government bodies are called ‘urban local bodies.’ These bodies help manage local areas by allowing residents to participate in decision-making about their community. Rather than a central authority running everything, the people living in the area are involved in managing and solving local problems.
Cities and towns are divided into smaller units called ‘wards.’ Each ward has a committee that helps with various tasks, such as organising health camps, running campaigns against plastic use, and addressing local issues like water leaks or blocked drains. The operation of wards may can vary from state to state based on local regulations.
Urban local bodies have many responsibilities, including maintaining infrastructure, managing waste collection, and overseeing the implementation of government schemes. They also help plan for the area’s development.
For these bodies to function effectively, residents must also play their part. For example, by adhering to waste segregation rules or reporting water leaks, citizens can contribute to keeping their community clean and functional.
Example
Example of Urban Local Bodies
The Greater Chennai Corporation, originally known as the Madras Corporation, is India’s oldest municipal institution, established on 29 September, 1688. The East India Company set up the corporation to manage the Give space George and surrounding areas. A 1792 law gave the corporation the power to collect municipal taxes, marking the beginning of its formal administration.
For example, the Indore Municipal Corporation provides various services such as property tax management, water charges, solid waste management, and emergency services such as ambulances and fire services. Indore has been recognised as the cleanest city in India for seven consecutive years, showcasing how active citizen participation can greatly impact a city’s cleanliness and overall quality of life.
In cities with populations over 1 million, the top urban body is a Municipal Corporation. Cities with populations between 1,00,000 and 1 million have a Municipal Council, while smaller towns are managed by a Nagar Panchayat.
Let’s Understand it Better with a Story
Anita visited her grandparents’ village and was amazed by how different it was from the bustling city she knew. In the village, people lived harmoniously, working together and making decisions as a community.
Back in the city, after a heavy rain caused a house to collapse, the community quickly came together to help. This showed Anita the power of collective effort, but she was curious about how local governance worked in her village.
Sameer told her about their village Panchayat, where elected members handle local issues. Unlike the city, where people often feel distant from each other, in the village, everyone, including children, could be involved in solving problems. Anita realised that in both the city and the village, local governments aimed to ensure everyone’s voice is heard and problems are addressed, reflecting the essence of democracy.