Urban Local Government in Karnataka | KPSC KAS Preparation: All subjects - KPSC KAS (Karnataka) PDF Download

Introduction

The state government delegates numerous responsibilities to urban local bodies to address public needs. These urban local bodies come in various forms, such as municipal corporations, municipalities, notified area committees, urban area committees, special purpose agencies, townships, port trusts, cantonment boards, and others.

Historical Background of Urban Local Bodies  

• The first municipal corporation in India was established in Madras in 1688, just before the British began their rule in India. The second municipal corporations were set up in Calcutta and Bombay in 1726. Lord Rippon, the then Indian viceroy, introduced the resolution for local self-government in 1882, earning him the title of the father of local self-government in India.
• The District Municipalities Act of 1920 and the Municipal Act of 1919 in Madras empowered councils to elect their chairmen and create budgets. In 1924, another act made city municipalities elective in cities with populations over 1 lakh. Mahatma Gandhi, a strong advocate of Gram Swaraj, called for transferring power to the people in rural areas.

Purpose of Urban Local Bodies 

The purposes of purpose of Urban local bodies are as follows:

• Urban local bodies were created to deliver urban services in a way that is effective, efficient, and of high quality.
• They also work on planning various social and economic development projects.
• ULBs oversee the construction of buildings and how land can be used.
• They manage the water supply for businesses, industries, and homes.
• Urban local bodies are responsible for maintaining sanitation, solid waste management, and public health.
• They establish various rules and regulations to guide urban development.
• Several plans and policies are put into action at the local level.
• ULBs take steps to help reduce poverty in the country.

Compositions of Municipalities 

• The Community Development Programme was initiated on 2nd October 1952, and in 1953, the National Extension Scheme was launched as a trial but ultimately failed. Various committees, such as the Balwant Mehta Committee in 1957, the Ashok Mehta Committee in 1977, the GVK Rao Committee in 1985, and the L.M. Singhvi Committee in 1986, were formed to address issues related to democratic decentralization in India.
• The 64th Amendment Bill, based on one of these committee reports, was passed but failed to provide the necessary support. Another attempt to pass the bill was made in 1990, but it was unsuccessful as the parliament was dissolved. Finally, in 1992, the bill was enacted as the 73rd and 74th Amendment Act, 1992, during the tenure of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.
• Each municipality is given a five-year term with several opportunities to implement improvements before their term ends. Elections must be held before the completion of five years, or within six months in case of dissolution.
• According to Clause 234K, every state must have self-governing institutions called municipalities, which are classified into three types:
  • Nagar Panchayat for areas transitioning from rural to urban
  • Municipal Corporation for developed urban areas
  • Municipal Council for underdeveloped or developing urban areas.

Urban Governments Types 

There are mainly eight different types of urban government in India.
These are as follows:

• Notified Area Committee
• Special Purpose Agency
• Town Area Committee 
• Municipal corporation
• Cantonment Board
• Municipality
• Township
• Port Trust

Municipal Personnel 

In India, there are three types of municipal personnel.
These include:

• Separate Personnel System
• Integrated Personnel System
• Unified Personnel System

Municipal Revenue

The Urban local bodies earn from these five sources:

• Non-Tax Revenue
• Tax Revenue
• Devolution 
• Grants
• Loans

Conclusion 

The future of our country largely depends on rural areas, and the local government is making significant efforts to meet the needs of the people there. This concludes our study material on urban local bodies. Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are smaller local entities that govern towns or cities with medium-sized populations. The state government entrusts these bodies with various responsibilities to address public needs.