More Power to Civic Bodies
It is important that the State government should share power with
the local bodies. As we have Central and State Lists, we can form
a Local/Civic list, which lists only those areas that are of concern
to a particular locality. The social welfare department has to be
completely decentralized and more responsibilities should be given
to the Civic bodies in social welfare activities. Identifying a Local/Civic
list would help to a great extent in streamlining the functions of
the second (State Government/Assembly) and the third tier of the democracy
(Civic Bodies that include Panchayat/Municipal Council/Town Panchayat
or Council and City Corporation). Also, the financial allocation to
local bodies should be increased. It is to be appreciated that the
erstwhile DMK government in Tamilnadu has empowered local bodies by
sharing 90% of the entertainment tax and 8% of other taxes with Local
bodies. More such administrative powers and financial independence
should be given to Civic Bodies. The logic for State Autonomy holds
good for local bodies also. The third tier, which is in immediate
contact with the masses, should have more independence and power.
As we rise to the second and third tiers, the power should only be
restricted to more serious issues that concern larger sections of
the state or the nation. This would be the ideal way of decentralizing
the power. When we give more power to local bodies, it should be given
to the Panchayats/Local Councils and the power should not be vested
with individuals such as Panchayat Presidents or Corporation Mayors.
The root cause of corruption and lack of accountability is mainly
due to the mistake of vesting more powers with individuals. This mistake
degrades even the best form of governance i.e. "Democracy". It would
be useful if the State Law Ministers meet together under the Chairmanship
of the Union Law Minister to discuss about the ways and means to empower
Civic Bodies. For instance, states like Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and
west Bengal have delegated more powers to the Civic Bodies.
It is interesting to note that recently the Chennai High Court has
ruled that no civic body should be made a subordinate to an another
civic body. There was a plan to bring the Village panchayats and Town
pachayats under the ruling of the larger civic bodies like bigger
Town Councils/Municipal Corporations. It is a timely and logical verdict
as any such stiffling of powers at any level in Civic administration
would defeat the purpose and logic of the existence of that body,
if it is brought under a bigger counterpart. The shear logic of having
many levels in Civic administration is to address the civic/social
issues of different magnitude and nature at appropriate levels. If
this was not negated by the High Court, in future it would lead to
a situation wherein the entire civic administration would be brought
under the State Government. It would have then become a retrograde
step. As mentioned earlier, the logic to assign more powers to State
governments in a Federal set-up holds good at every level of democracy.
A good democracy is one wherein the citizen become the real masters
and they run the nation through their representatives at different
tiers of democracy.
Creeping Undemocratic Ways
It is reported that few seats in local bodies went without any nomination.
Those seats were either auctioned or persons elected based on a "lottery
system". In Madurai Usilampatti area, Panchayats like Pappapatti and
Keeripatti, and in two more Town Councils in Virudhunagar district,
the localities evaded the election by auctioning or by resorting to
a lottery system. In the name of cohesion amongst the local community
and /or in the name of averting any sort of clash, in places like
Nattar Mangalam, no nominations were filed. This would kill the purpose
of civic body election. It is highly undemocratic and subverts democracy.
In auctions, the money again plays a role and this would lead to more
corruption if one wins a seat in auction by paying a lump sum to the
local community. The local communities fear that the contest based
on politics or caste would torment their integrity and cohesion. This
raises a question as to whether we should contest the local body elections
based on a politics and parties. Reserving a constituency where the
schedule castes are in minority has evoked angry reactions in some
parts of Tamilnadu. It may be acceptable for a larger assembly constituency
but not for local body seats. While "reserving" the constituencies
we need to be little more pragmatic. If more benevolent individuals
were elected as independents that would ensure the success of the
third tier and would also allay the fears that political parties or
caste would torment the peace in the local community. People should
realize this and they need to work on these lines rather than resorting
to lottery or auction systems.
Indirect Election to Legislative Council
The importance of the local bodies can be enhanced and made more
serious and indispensable by introducing a system wherein the indirect
election of the members of the Legislative Council happens through
the local bodies. The Legislative Council should be made mandatory.
In line with the election to the Rajya Sabha (by the Assemblies),
why can't we allow local body members to elect representatives to
the Legislative Council of a State?
Women Reservation in Civic Bodies
Another important point to be noted is that the reservation for
women has already been implemented in Civic Bodies although the reservation
for women is still being debated with regard to State Legislative
Assemblies and Parliament. This is no doubt a positive step. However,
it is also reported that in many parts of Tamilnadu (may be true in
other parts of the country as well) it is the men in the family of
the women representatives who really operate on the filed. It is a
blatant misuse of the concession and should be seriously countered.
There is also a feeling that there was no major opposition/ resistance
to women's reservation in Civic Bodies as these women representatives
can be either manipulated by their family members or subdued by their
fellow members in the civic bodies. This author wishes that these
apprehensions are not true and the women who get elected to the civic
bodies really catalyze the positive social changes. They should not
only empower themselves but should also empower the weaker section
of the society that they belong to. The third tier of democracy, without
any doubt, would strengthen our democracy.
