Grassroots Democracy – Part 3
Local Government in Urban Areas
1. What is Grassroots Democracy?
Grassroots democracy means people
take part in decision-making at the local level. In cities and towns, this
happens through urban local bodies. These bodies help citizens
understand administration, rights, duties, and governance in their own area.
2. Why Do Cities Need Local Government?
Cities are larger, more
crowded, and more diverse than villages. They have people from
different regions, religions, languages, and occupations. Because of this
complexity, cities need organized local governments to manage
services properly.
3. Urban Local Bodies
Urban local bodies are local
governments in cities and towns. They work in a decentralised way,
meaning power is shared with people at the local level instead of being
controlled only by the central government.
Types of Urban Local Bodies:
·
Municipal Corporation (Mahanagar Nigam)
→ For cities
with more than 10 lakh population
→ Example:
Chennai, Mumbai, Indore
·
Municipal Council (Nagar Palika)
→ For cities
with 1–10 lakh population
·
Nagar Panchayat
→ For small
towns with a growing population
4. Wards and
Ward Committees
Cities are divided into wards.
Each ward has a ward committee that:
·
Looks after cleanliness and drainage
·
Reports water leakage and damaged roads
·
Organises health camps
·
Spreads awareness (e.g., against plastic use)
5. Functions
of Urban Local Bodies
Urban local bodies perform many important functions:
- ·
Garbage collection and waste disposal
- ·
Supply of water and maintenance of roads
- ·
Maintenance of burial grounds
- ·
Issuing birth, death, and marriage certificates
- ·
Fire services and ambulance services
- ·
Collecting local taxes and fines
- ·
Planning for economic and social development
6. Role of Citizens
Urban democracy works well only
when citizens act responsibly:
·
Segregating waste
·
Reporting leaks or broken roads
·
Paying taxes on time
·
Keeping surroundings clean
7. Example: Indore
Indore has been declared
the cleanest city in India for seven years. This was possible because:
·
Citizens cooperated with the municipal corporation
·
People followed cleanliness rules
·
Waste management was taken seriously
8. Urban vs Rural Local Government
Urban local bodies work
like Panchayati Raj institutions, but on a larger and more
complex scale. Both systems:
·
Have elected representatives
·
Encourage people’s participation
·
Aim for local development
✏️ IN-TEXT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
LET’S EXPLORE (Page 174)
Q1. Why are cities like Kolkata,
Chennai, or Mumbai more complex than villages?
Answer:
Cities have a larger population, many communities, tall buildings, busy roads,
industries, and diverse occupations. Managing such diversity makes cities more
complex than villages.
Q2. List diverse communities
living in a city. What do you observe?
Answer:
Different communities include traders, factory workers, teachers, doctors,
migrants, students, and daily wage workers.
Observation: Cities are multicultural and diverse, with people from
many backgrounds living together.
LET’S EXPLORE (Page 175)
Q3. Similarities and differences
between Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Government?
Similarities:
·
Both are local governments
·
Both have elected representatives
·
Both promote people’s participation
Differences:
·
Panchayati Raj works in rural areas
·
Urban local bodies work in cities and towns
·
Urban bodies handle more complex services
LET’S EXPLORE (Page 177)
Q4. Actions responsible citizens
can take to help their city:
Answer:
1. Segregate wet
and dry waste
2. Save water and
electricity
3. Report damaged
roads and leaks
4. Avoid littering
5. Participate in
cleanliness drives
THINK ABOUT IT (Page 179)
Q5. Role of Indore citizens in
becoming the cleanest city?
Answer:
Citizens followed waste segregation rules, avoided littering, cooperated with
municipal workers, and actively supported cleanliness campaigns.
LET’S EXPLORE (Page 179)
Q6. How can we find out whether
a city has a Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council, or Municipal Corporation?
Answer:
By checking:
·
Government websites
·
Municipal office records
·
Population data from census reports
Q7. How do urban local bodies
get funds? Are some services paid?
Answer:
Urban local bodies collect money through:
·
Property tax
·
Water charges
·
Trade licenses
·
Paid services like water tankers, ambulance, and certificates
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Questions, activities and projects
1. On your way to school, you and your friends notice that a water pipe is leaking. A lot of water is being wasted. What would you do?
If we notice a leaking water pipe on our way to school, we should not ignore it. First, we should inform a responsible adult such as a teacher, parent, or school authority. Then, the matter should be reported to the local urban body, such as the ward member, municipal office, or through a helpline or complaint system if available. We should also make people nearby aware so that no one wastes the water unnecessarily. Reporting the problem quickly will help save water and prevent damage to the road and surroundings. This is an example of responsible citizenship in a democracy.
2. Invite a member of an urban local body to your class. Prepare questions to make the meeting fruitful.
To make the meeting useful, students can prepare the following questions:
What is your role in the urban local body?
How are members of urban local bodies elected?
What problems do citizens usually complain about?
How does the urban local body solve issues like water supply, garbage, and roads?
How can children and citizens help the local body?
What challenges do you face while doing your work?
How can people contact you in emergencies?
These questions will help students understand how urban governance works and how citizens participate in democracy.
3. Make a list of expectations of people from urban local bodies.
People expect the following from urban local bodies:
Clean drinking water supply
Proper garbage collection and waste disposal
Clean and well-maintained roads
Streetlights and public safety
Clean public toilets and drainage systems
Quick action during emergencies like floods or fires
Honest and transparent functioning
These expectations help improve the quality of life in cities and towns.
4. List the characteristics of a good urban local body.
A good urban local body should have the following characteristics:
Elected representatives who listen to people
Transparency in work and use of funds
Efficient delivery of services like water, sanitation, and roads
Quick response to citizens’ complaints
Encouragement of citizen participation
Proper planning for social and economic development
Clean and corruption-free administration
Such qualities help strengthen democracy at the local level.
5. Similarities and differences between Panchayati Raj system and urban local bodies
Similarities
Both are forms of local self-government
Members are elected by the people
Both promote participatory democracy
Both work for local development and welfare
Citizens play an important role in their success
Differences
| Panchayati Raj (Rural) | Urban Local Bodies |
|---|---|
| Works in villages | Works in cities and towns |
| Includes Gram Sabha, Gram Panchayat | Includes Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council, Municipal Corporation |
| Smaller population | Larger and more diverse population |
| Simpler administration | More complex administration |
Both systems help people take part in governance according to their local needs.
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