The Bengal Village Chowkidari Act, 1870 | WBCS Preparation: All Subjects - WBCS (West Bengal) PDF Download

Local self-government refers to the administration of a locality, such as a city, town, village, or community. This form of government operates with a considerable degree of autonomy, allowing it to generate revenue through local taxes and allocate funds for the area's services.
The historical development of local self-government in West Bengal includes key legislative acts such as the Bengal Village Chowkidari Act, 1870, the Bengal Local Self-Government Act, 1885, and the West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1957. These acts governed rural administration in West Bengal until 1957 when a four-tier panchayat system was implemented in 1964. Subsequently, the Panchayat Act of 1973 replaced it with a three-tier system.

The Bengal Village Chowkidari Act, 1870

The Bengal Village Chowkidari Act of 1870 marked the introduction of village self-government in Bengal during colonial rule. This act placed the services of village chowkidars (night-watchmen) under the control of a Panchayat composed of at least five members appointed by the District Collector. However, their duties were limited to assessing and collecting taxes for maintaining chowkidars, and they lacked authority over local development, leading to the unpopularity of the Chowkidari Panchayat System.

The Bengal Local Self-Government Act, 1885

The Bengal Local Self-Government Act of 1885 addressed the demand for local self-government in both rural and urban areas of Bengal. It established three classes of local authorities: the District Board, the Local Board, and the Union Committee. The District Board had authority over the entire district, the Local Board for each sub-division, and the Union Committees for groups of villages. The act specified the composition and tenure of these boards.

West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1957

The West Bengal Panchayat Act of 1957 introduced Gram Sabha, Gram Panchayat, Anchal Panchayat, and Nyaya Panchayat. The Gram Panchayat consisted of elected and nominated members, signaling progress in rural self-government with provisions for civic services, justice, police, and development. Notably, this act introduced the principle of adult franchise in rural self-governing bodies and featured Gram Sabha as a structure enabling direct democracy.

Four-Tier Panchayats in West Bengal 

The four-tier Panchayati Raj structure in West Bengal, inaugurated in 1964, comprised Gram Panchayat, Anchal Panchayat, Anchalik Parishad, and Zila Parishad. However, this system faced challenges due to implementation failures and political issues, resulting in a lack of active participation from the village populace and rendering the panchayat bodies ineffective and stagnant.