Local Governance in Uttarakhand | Uttarakhand State PSC (UKPSC): Preparation - UKPSC (Uttarakhand) PDF Download

 Page 1


Local Governance in Uttarakhand
Local governance in Uttarakhand includes urban local bodies and rural local
bodies. Although in existence long before; their present structure and
functioning represents constitutional mandate of 73
rd
 and 74
th
 Constitutional
amendmants.
Urban Local Bodies
Urban local bodies in the state include three types of institutions viz.
Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats. While the
municipalities and Nagar Panchayats are governed by Municipalities Act of
1916; Municipal Corporations are goverened by Uttar Pradesh Municipal
Corporation Act 1956.
Municipal Corporations- They are generally constituted in large cities. At
present the government has constituted 8 municipal corporations in the state.
They are further categorized as-
Category 1- population more than 5 lakh- Haridwar is the only municipal
corporation in this category.
Category 2- Population between 2 lakh to 5 lakh- Dehradun is the only
municipal corporation in this category.
Category 3- Population less than 2 lakh- 6 municipal corporations in this
category include Haldwani, Rudrapur, Kashipur, Kotdwar, Rishikesh and
Roorkee
Municipalities- They are constituted in mid size cities and are 41 in
numbers. They are further categoriesed as-
Category 1- Municipalities with income more than 1 crore from own sources
of income; municipalities of district headquarters having income more than
rs, 50 lakh from own sources- they are 7 in numbers.
Category 2- Municipalities with income more than 50 lakh from their own
sources; and all the municipalities with district headquarters having
population more than 50 thousands. They are 13 in numbers.
Category 3- All other municipalities- they are 21 in numbers.
Nagar Panchayats- they are constituted in towns which are in transition
Page 2


Local Governance in Uttarakhand
Local governance in Uttarakhand includes urban local bodies and rural local
bodies. Although in existence long before; their present structure and
functioning represents constitutional mandate of 73
rd
 and 74
th
 Constitutional
amendmants.
Urban Local Bodies
Urban local bodies in the state include three types of institutions viz.
Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats. While the
municipalities and Nagar Panchayats are governed by Municipalities Act of
1916; Municipal Corporations are goverened by Uttar Pradesh Municipal
Corporation Act 1956.
Municipal Corporations- They are generally constituted in large cities. At
present the government has constituted 8 municipal corporations in the state.
They are further categorized as-
Category 1- population more than 5 lakh- Haridwar is the only municipal
corporation in this category.
Category 2- Population between 2 lakh to 5 lakh- Dehradun is the only
municipal corporation in this category.
Category 3- Population less than 2 lakh- 6 municipal corporations in this
category include Haldwani, Rudrapur, Kashipur, Kotdwar, Rishikesh and
Roorkee
Municipalities- They are constituted in mid size cities and are 41 in
numbers. They are further categoriesed as-
Category 1- Municipalities with income more than 1 crore from own sources
of income; municipalities of district headquarters having income more than
rs, 50 lakh from own sources- they are 7 in numbers.
Category 2- Municipalities with income more than 50 lakh from their own
sources; and all the municipalities with district headquarters having
population more than 50 thousands. They are 13 in numbers.
Category 3- All other municipalities- they are 21 in numbers.
Nagar Panchayats- they are constituted in towns which are in transition
from rural to urban areas. There are 43 Nagar Panchayats in the state. They
are further categorized as-
Category 1- Nagar Panchayats with population more than 10,000. They are 5
in numbers.
Category 2- Nagar Panchayats with population less than 10,000. They are 36
in numbers.
All the three types of urban local bodies have following structure
Political Head- an elected political head called mayor in municipal
corporations and chairperson in municipalities and nagar panchayats. In state
this post is held by directly elected person and thus can not be replaced or
removed with a vote of no confidence by the Board. (s)he is also the
executive head of the body. Thus unlike in central and state government
mayor/chairperson is the political, executive and administrative head of the
organization. As a corollary to it all the files move up to this level and (s)he is
authorized to sign the cheques.
The Board- the board is constituted by the elected members of the local
body called ward members. For this purpose the city is divided into wards
and for each ward a member is elected out of the residents of the ward. The
board is legislature of the body and is chaired by the mayor/chairperson.
The Administration- Commissioner in corporations and Executive
Officers in the municipalities and the nagar panchayats head an
administrative machiney which works under the overall guidance of the
Board. There are varios sections in the administration which include revenue,
sanitation and cleanliness, accounts, office service etc. which are involved in
day to day functioning of the local body.
At the state level the urban governance is supported by a directorate and a
department of urban development.
The urban local bodies have powers to frame their own rules called by-laws
and taxation powers to generate their own sources of income. Additionally
they recive funds from the central and state governments as per the
recommendations of the Central and State Finannce Commisions
respectively. They also receive funds as an execution agency for various
central and state government schemes.
Schemes- Various schemes of the central and state governments being
Page 3


Local Governance in Uttarakhand
Local governance in Uttarakhand includes urban local bodies and rural local
bodies. Although in existence long before; their present structure and
functioning represents constitutional mandate of 73
rd
 and 74
th
 Constitutional
amendmants.
Urban Local Bodies
Urban local bodies in the state include three types of institutions viz.
Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats. While the
municipalities and Nagar Panchayats are governed by Municipalities Act of
1916; Municipal Corporations are goverened by Uttar Pradesh Municipal
Corporation Act 1956.
Municipal Corporations- They are generally constituted in large cities. At
present the government has constituted 8 municipal corporations in the state.
They are further categorized as-
Category 1- population more than 5 lakh- Haridwar is the only municipal
corporation in this category.
Category 2- Population between 2 lakh to 5 lakh- Dehradun is the only
municipal corporation in this category.
Category 3- Population less than 2 lakh- 6 municipal corporations in this
category include Haldwani, Rudrapur, Kashipur, Kotdwar, Rishikesh and
Roorkee
Municipalities- They are constituted in mid size cities and are 41 in
numbers. They are further categoriesed as-
Category 1- Municipalities with income more than 1 crore from own sources
of income; municipalities of district headquarters having income more than
rs, 50 lakh from own sources- they are 7 in numbers.
Category 2- Municipalities with income more than 50 lakh from their own
sources; and all the municipalities with district headquarters having
population more than 50 thousands. They are 13 in numbers.
Category 3- All other municipalities- they are 21 in numbers.
Nagar Panchayats- they are constituted in towns which are in transition
from rural to urban areas. There are 43 Nagar Panchayats in the state. They
are further categorized as-
Category 1- Nagar Panchayats with population more than 10,000. They are 5
in numbers.
Category 2- Nagar Panchayats with population less than 10,000. They are 36
in numbers.
All the three types of urban local bodies have following structure
Political Head- an elected political head called mayor in municipal
corporations and chairperson in municipalities and nagar panchayats. In state
this post is held by directly elected person and thus can not be replaced or
removed with a vote of no confidence by the Board. (s)he is also the
executive head of the body. Thus unlike in central and state government
mayor/chairperson is the political, executive and administrative head of the
organization. As a corollary to it all the files move up to this level and (s)he is
authorized to sign the cheques.
The Board- the board is constituted by the elected members of the local
body called ward members. For this purpose the city is divided into wards
and for each ward a member is elected out of the residents of the ward. The
board is legislature of the body and is chaired by the mayor/chairperson.
The Administration- Commissioner in corporations and Executive
Officers in the municipalities and the nagar panchayats head an
administrative machiney which works under the overall guidance of the
Board. There are varios sections in the administration which include revenue,
sanitation and cleanliness, accounts, office service etc. which are involved in
day to day functioning of the local body.
At the state level the urban governance is supported by a directorate and a
department of urban development.
The urban local bodies have powers to frame their own rules called by-laws
and taxation powers to generate their own sources of income. Additionally
they recive funds from the central and state governments as per the
recommendations of the Central and State Finannce Commisions
respectively. They also receive funds as an execution agency for various
central and state government schemes.
Schemes- Various schemes of the central and state governments being
implemented at present are- National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM),
National Urban Livelihood Mission(NULM), Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Smart
City, AMRUT, PM Awas etc.
Recommendations of 4
th
 State Finance Commission of Urban Local
Bodies.
1. 10.5% of the state budget shall be devolved to the local bodies.
2. it should be distributed between rural and urban local bodies in a ratio of
45:55.
3. the division between municipal corporations, municipalities and nagar
panchayats should be done in a ratio of 40:45:15.
4. following formula should be used for distribution among ULBs
Criteria Municipal Corporations Municipality Nagar Panchayat
Population 50 60 60
Area 20 10 20
Taxation Efforts 20 20 20
Centrality index 10 10 -
Rural Local Bodies
Rural local bodies in the state comprised of a three tier structure of Zila
Panchayats at district level; Block Development Councils at
intermediate(block) level and Gram Panchayats at village level.
GRAM PANCHYAT- Gram Panchayats are constituted at village level.
They are headed by directly elected gram pradhan, and comprises of ward
members who are independently elected from the wards of the village. From
among the ward members one person is elected as up- pradhan. On
administrative side there is a panchayat secretary called Village Panchayat
Development Officer and other line staff.
DELIMITATION –NORMS FOR GRAM PANCHAYATS- In hilly
areas a gram panchayat shall be constituted with a minimum population of
500 while in plain areas this limit is 1000. The gram panchayat should
constitute one or more revenue villages, but for the purpose of creation of
gram panchayats the revenue village can not be divided. Based on its
population gram panchayat shall be divided into wards.
• 501–1000——————-7 wards 1001–2000 ———————9 wards
Page 4


Local Governance in Uttarakhand
Local governance in Uttarakhand includes urban local bodies and rural local
bodies. Although in existence long before; their present structure and
functioning represents constitutional mandate of 73
rd
 and 74
th
 Constitutional
amendmants.
Urban Local Bodies
Urban local bodies in the state include three types of institutions viz.
Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats. While the
municipalities and Nagar Panchayats are governed by Municipalities Act of
1916; Municipal Corporations are goverened by Uttar Pradesh Municipal
Corporation Act 1956.
Municipal Corporations- They are generally constituted in large cities. At
present the government has constituted 8 municipal corporations in the state.
They are further categorized as-
Category 1- population more than 5 lakh- Haridwar is the only municipal
corporation in this category.
Category 2- Population between 2 lakh to 5 lakh- Dehradun is the only
municipal corporation in this category.
Category 3- Population less than 2 lakh- 6 municipal corporations in this
category include Haldwani, Rudrapur, Kashipur, Kotdwar, Rishikesh and
Roorkee
Municipalities- They are constituted in mid size cities and are 41 in
numbers. They are further categoriesed as-
Category 1- Municipalities with income more than 1 crore from own sources
of income; municipalities of district headquarters having income more than
rs, 50 lakh from own sources- they are 7 in numbers.
Category 2- Municipalities with income more than 50 lakh from their own
sources; and all the municipalities with district headquarters having
population more than 50 thousands. They are 13 in numbers.
Category 3- All other municipalities- they are 21 in numbers.
Nagar Panchayats- they are constituted in towns which are in transition
from rural to urban areas. There are 43 Nagar Panchayats in the state. They
are further categorized as-
Category 1- Nagar Panchayats with population more than 10,000. They are 5
in numbers.
Category 2- Nagar Panchayats with population less than 10,000. They are 36
in numbers.
All the three types of urban local bodies have following structure
Political Head- an elected political head called mayor in municipal
corporations and chairperson in municipalities and nagar panchayats. In state
this post is held by directly elected person and thus can not be replaced or
removed with a vote of no confidence by the Board. (s)he is also the
executive head of the body. Thus unlike in central and state government
mayor/chairperson is the political, executive and administrative head of the
organization. As a corollary to it all the files move up to this level and (s)he is
authorized to sign the cheques.
The Board- the board is constituted by the elected members of the local
body called ward members. For this purpose the city is divided into wards
and for each ward a member is elected out of the residents of the ward. The
board is legislature of the body and is chaired by the mayor/chairperson.
The Administration- Commissioner in corporations and Executive
Officers in the municipalities and the nagar panchayats head an
administrative machiney which works under the overall guidance of the
Board. There are varios sections in the administration which include revenue,
sanitation and cleanliness, accounts, office service etc. which are involved in
day to day functioning of the local body.
At the state level the urban governance is supported by a directorate and a
department of urban development.
The urban local bodies have powers to frame their own rules called by-laws
and taxation powers to generate their own sources of income. Additionally
they recive funds from the central and state governments as per the
recommendations of the Central and State Finannce Commisions
respectively. They also receive funds as an execution agency for various
central and state government schemes.
Schemes- Various schemes of the central and state governments being
implemented at present are- National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM),
National Urban Livelihood Mission(NULM), Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Smart
City, AMRUT, PM Awas etc.
Recommendations of 4
th
 State Finance Commission of Urban Local
Bodies.
1. 10.5% of the state budget shall be devolved to the local bodies.
2. it should be distributed between rural and urban local bodies in a ratio of
45:55.
3. the division between municipal corporations, municipalities and nagar
panchayats should be done in a ratio of 40:45:15.
4. following formula should be used for distribution among ULBs
Criteria Municipal Corporations Municipality Nagar Panchayat
Population 50 60 60
Area 20 10 20
Taxation Efforts 20 20 20
Centrality index 10 10 -
Rural Local Bodies
Rural local bodies in the state comprised of a three tier structure of Zila
Panchayats at district level; Block Development Councils at
intermediate(block) level and Gram Panchayats at village level.
GRAM PANCHYAT- Gram Panchayats are constituted at village level.
They are headed by directly elected gram pradhan, and comprises of ward
members who are independently elected from the wards of the village. From
among the ward members one person is elected as up- pradhan. On
administrative side there is a panchayat secretary called Village Panchayat
Development Officer and other line staff.
DELIMITATION –NORMS FOR GRAM PANCHAYATS- In hilly
areas a gram panchayat shall be constituted with a minimum population of
500 while in plain areas this limit is 1000. The gram panchayat should
constitute one or more revenue villages, but for the purpose of creation of
gram panchayats the revenue village can not be divided. Based on its
population gram panchayat shall be divided into wards.
• 501–1000——————-7 wards 1001–2000 ———————9 wards
• 2001–3000 —————-11 wards 3001–5000 ———————13 wards
• More than 5000————15 wards
Block Development Council- Each developmental block is divided into
several wards based on its population. Each ward is represented by an elected
member called BDC member. Among the members one person is elected as
Jyeshth Pramuk who chairs the BDC. Other person is elected as Up-jyeshth
Pramukh. Thus unlike village panchayat; pramukh at block level is an
indirectly elected post. On administration side Block Development Officer
acts as secretary to the BDC and there is line staff from all the developmental
departments like education, agriculture, horticulture, cooperatives etc.
DELIMITATION –NORMS FOR BLOCK PANCHAYATS- Each
BDC should comprise of a minimum 20 wards and maximum 40 wards. One
ward should have a maximum population of 1250 and 2500 individulas in
hilly and plain areas respectively provided for the purpose of creation of a
ward gram panchayat can not be divided among two BDC wards; which
means in one gram panchayat can only be part of a single ward.
Zila Panchayats- The highest level of local rural governments in the state
is Zila Panchayat. the district for the purpose of creating a zila panchayat is
divided in electoral constituencies to be represented by an elected member.
Among the directly elected members on person is elected indirectly as the
chairperson and one person as deputy chairperson. Zila Panchayat Board is
the highest decision making, legislative body of the district. On
administration side Apar Mukhya Adhikari (AMA) heads an staff of different
sections like revenue, construction, accounts, office service, etc.
DELIMITATION –NORMS FOR ZILA PANCHAYATS- For the
purpose of constituting electoral constituencies block or the BDC acts as a
unit. For each block having minimum population 24000 and 50000 in hilly
and plain areas respectively; there will be two zila panchayat constituencies
provided a single zila panchayat constituency can bot be divided among two
or more blocks.
FUNCTIONING OF PANCHAYATS
 Open meetings of Gram Panchayats-all members of Gram Sabha can
participate
 Cabinet (Gram Panchayat) meeting –all ward members
Page 5


Local Governance in Uttarakhand
Local governance in Uttarakhand includes urban local bodies and rural local
bodies. Although in existence long before; their present structure and
functioning represents constitutional mandate of 73
rd
 and 74
th
 Constitutional
amendmants.
Urban Local Bodies
Urban local bodies in the state include three types of institutions viz.
Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats. While the
municipalities and Nagar Panchayats are governed by Municipalities Act of
1916; Municipal Corporations are goverened by Uttar Pradesh Municipal
Corporation Act 1956.
Municipal Corporations- They are generally constituted in large cities. At
present the government has constituted 8 municipal corporations in the state.
They are further categorized as-
Category 1- population more than 5 lakh- Haridwar is the only municipal
corporation in this category.
Category 2- Population between 2 lakh to 5 lakh- Dehradun is the only
municipal corporation in this category.
Category 3- Population less than 2 lakh- 6 municipal corporations in this
category include Haldwani, Rudrapur, Kashipur, Kotdwar, Rishikesh and
Roorkee
Municipalities- They are constituted in mid size cities and are 41 in
numbers. They are further categoriesed as-
Category 1- Municipalities with income more than 1 crore from own sources
of income; municipalities of district headquarters having income more than
rs, 50 lakh from own sources- they are 7 in numbers.
Category 2- Municipalities with income more than 50 lakh from their own
sources; and all the municipalities with district headquarters having
population more than 50 thousands. They are 13 in numbers.
Category 3- All other municipalities- they are 21 in numbers.
Nagar Panchayats- they are constituted in towns which are in transition
from rural to urban areas. There are 43 Nagar Panchayats in the state. They
are further categorized as-
Category 1- Nagar Panchayats with population more than 10,000. They are 5
in numbers.
Category 2- Nagar Panchayats with population less than 10,000. They are 36
in numbers.
All the three types of urban local bodies have following structure
Political Head- an elected political head called mayor in municipal
corporations and chairperson in municipalities and nagar panchayats. In state
this post is held by directly elected person and thus can not be replaced or
removed with a vote of no confidence by the Board. (s)he is also the
executive head of the body. Thus unlike in central and state government
mayor/chairperson is the political, executive and administrative head of the
organization. As a corollary to it all the files move up to this level and (s)he is
authorized to sign the cheques.
The Board- the board is constituted by the elected members of the local
body called ward members. For this purpose the city is divided into wards
and for each ward a member is elected out of the residents of the ward. The
board is legislature of the body and is chaired by the mayor/chairperson.
The Administration- Commissioner in corporations and Executive
Officers in the municipalities and the nagar panchayats head an
administrative machiney which works under the overall guidance of the
Board. There are varios sections in the administration which include revenue,
sanitation and cleanliness, accounts, office service etc. which are involved in
day to day functioning of the local body.
At the state level the urban governance is supported by a directorate and a
department of urban development.
The urban local bodies have powers to frame their own rules called by-laws
and taxation powers to generate their own sources of income. Additionally
they recive funds from the central and state governments as per the
recommendations of the Central and State Finannce Commisions
respectively. They also receive funds as an execution agency for various
central and state government schemes.
Schemes- Various schemes of the central and state governments being
implemented at present are- National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM),
National Urban Livelihood Mission(NULM), Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Smart
City, AMRUT, PM Awas etc.
Recommendations of 4
th
 State Finance Commission of Urban Local
Bodies.
1. 10.5% of the state budget shall be devolved to the local bodies.
2. it should be distributed between rural and urban local bodies in a ratio of
45:55.
3. the division between municipal corporations, municipalities and nagar
panchayats should be done in a ratio of 40:45:15.
4. following formula should be used for distribution among ULBs
Criteria Municipal Corporations Municipality Nagar Panchayat
Population 50 60 60
Area 20 10 20
Taxation Efforts 20 20 20
Centrality index 10 10 -
Rural Local Bodies
Rural local bodies in the state comprised of a three tier structure of Zila
Panchayats at district level; Block Development Councils at
intermediate(block) level and Gram Panchayats at village level.
GRAM PANCHYAT- Gram Panchayats are constituted at village level.
They are headed by directly elected gram pradhan, and comprises of ward
members who are independently elected from the wards of the village. From
among the ward members one person is elected as up- pradhan. On
administrative side there is a panchayat secretary called Village Panchayat
Development Officer and other line staff.
DELIMITATION –NORMS FOR GRAM PANCHAYATS- In hilly
areas a gram panchayat shall be constituted with a minimum population of
500 while in plain areas this limit is 1000. The gram panchayat should
constitute one or more revenue villages, but for the purpose of creation of
gram panchayats the revenue village can not be divided. Based on its
population gram panchayat shall be divided into wards.
• 501–1000——————-7 wards 1001–2000 ———————9 wards
• 2001–3000 —————-11 wards 3001–5000 ———————13 wards
• More than 5000————15 wards
Block Development Council- Each developmental block is divided into
several wards based on its population. Each ward is represented by an elected
member called BDC member. Among the members one person is elected as
Jyeshth Pramuk who chairs the BDC. Other person is elected as Up-jyeshth
Pramukh. Thus unlike village panchayat; pramukh at block level is an
indirectly elected post. On administration side Block Development Officer
acts as secretary to the BDC and there is line staff from all the developmental
departments like education, agriculture, horticulture, cooperatives etc.
DELIMITATION –NORMS FOR BLOCK PANCHAYATS- Each
BDC should comprise of a minimum 20 wards and maximum 40 wards. One
ward should have a maximum population of 1250 and 2500 individulas in
hilly and plain areas respectively provided for the purpose of creation of a
ward gram panchayat can not be divided among two BDC wards; which
means in one gram panchayat can only be part of a single ward.
Zila Panchayats- The highest level of local rural governments in the state
is Zila Panchayat. the district for the purpose of creating a zila panchayat is
divided in electoral constituencies to be represented by an elected member.
Among the directly elected members on person is elected indirectly as the
chairperson and one person as deputy chairperson. Zila Panchayat Board is
the highest decision making, legislative body of the district. On
administration side Apar Mukhya Adhikari (AMA) heads an staff of different
sections like revenue, construction, accounts, office service, etc.
DELIMITATION –NORMS FOR ZILA PANCHAYATS- For the
purpose of constituting electoral constituencies block or the BDC acts as a
unit. For each block having minimum population 24000 and 50000 in hilly
and plain areas respectively; there will be two zila panchayat constituencies
provided a single zila panchayat constituency can bot be divided among two
or more blocks.
FUNCTIONING OF PANCHAYATS
 Open meetings of Gram Panchayats-all members of Gram Sabha can
participate
 Cabinet (Gram Panchayat) meeting –all ward members
 Block development committee meeting
 Zila panchayat board meeting
IMPORTANT RECORDS OF THE PANCHAYATS
 Family register
 Birth –death registration register
 Grant register
 Cash book, pass book, cheque book
 Open meeting agenda register
 Open meeting proceeding register
 Asset register
COMMITTEES OF PANCHAYATS
 Planning and development committee –chaired by gram
Pradhan/Pramukh/Chairperson
 Education committee-ch. By Up Pradhan/ Up- pramukh/deputy
chairperson
 Construction committee-ch. By ward member elected by G.P/BDC/ZP
 Health & welfare committee- ch.By ward member elected by
G.P/BDC/ZP
 Administrative committee – ch. By Pradhan/Pramukh/Chairperson
 Water management committee ch. By ward member elected by
G.P/BDC/ZP
Working of Panchayats in Uttarakhand
 Effective role in information, education & communication.
 Great role in ODF Rural Uttarakhand
 Identification of all NSAP beneficiaries
 Recruitment of ASHA
 Monitoring of Anganwaris
 Providing employment through MGNREGS & other labour intensive
schemes.
 Maintenance of community assets
 Providing birth & death certificate
 Monitoring of Mid day meal scheme
 Issuance of ration cards