Urban Local Government in India

Urbanisation has become a common feature of Indian society. With cities being the main beneficiaries of globalisation, along with increasing urban population, millions of people chasing jobs are migrating to cities.

This signifies the need to position Indian cities as drivers of the structural transformation of the Indian economy. It requires enhancement and upgradation of infrastructure which calls for active support by State Governments and also the Central Government.

Our Constitution provides a clear mandate for Democratic Decentralisation not only through the Directive Principles of State Policy but more specifically through the 73^rd and 74^th Amendments of the Constitution which seek to create an institutional framework for ushering in grassroot democracy through the medium of genuinely self-governing local bodies in both urban and rural areas of the country.

However, despite the constitutional mandate, the growth of self-governing local bodies as the third tier of governance in the country has been uneven and slow. The transfer of 3F ( funds, functions and functionaries ) has been nominal (with notable exceptions such as Kerala).

Integrating Institutional reforms in local governance with economic reforms was Gandhiji’s far-sighted vision of ‘Poorna Swaraj’. But Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a report State Finances, Study of Budgets of 2021-22, released in November 2021 stated that, with the third-tier governments in India playing a frontline role in combating the pandemic by implementing containment strategies, healthcare, their finances have come under severe strain, forcing them to cut down expenditures and mobilise funding from various sources.

What are the Problems Faced by Urban Local Bodies?

• Financial Paucity:
  • Financial stringency has become the biggest hurdle in good governance at ground level.
  • Dependence on Intergovernmental Transfers:
    • The Urban local government heavily depends on the state governments for getting grants-in-aid out of the consolidated fund of state.
  • Acute Share in Revenue:
    • Generally, their source of income is inadequate as compared to their functions. Their chief sources of income are the varied types of taxes.
    • However, taxes collected by the urban bodies are not sufficient to cover the expenses of the services provided.
    • Though they can impose certain new taxes, the elected members of these local bodies hesitate in doing so for fear of displeasing their electorate.
• Unplanned Urbanisation:
  • In absence of proper planning, the Municipal Services find it difficult to cope with the increasing needs of the population, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
    • The administrative machinery of local bodies is insufficient. Judicious use of land is not being made, colonies are set up without proper facilities such as schools, parks and hospitals, the growth of slums is not checked, traffic congestion.
      • This also leads to urban poverty, unemployment and ecological degradation.
• Excessive Control of State Government:
  • The State Government takes control of the Urban local bodies which are legislative, administrative, judicial and financial keeps urban municipal governments subordinate units rather than functioning as institutions of self-governance.
    • Municipalities need to balance their budgets, by law, and any municipal borrowing has to be approved by the state government.
      • Unlike the Centre and the States, no distinction is made between revenue expenditure and capital expenditure at the Urban Local Government level.
• Multiplicity of Agencies:
  • Formation of single purpose agencies under the direct supervision of the state government and without any accountability towards urban local government. The municipal bodies have to contribute to the budget to these agencies while having no control over them.
    • Example: State Transport Corporation, State Electricity Board, Water Supply Department etc.
• Low level of People’s Participation:
  • Despite a relatively higher level of literacy and educational standard, city dwellers do not take adequate interest in the functioning of the urban government bodies.
    • The multiplicity of special purpose agencies and other urban bodies confuses the public about their role boundaries.

How can We Empower Urban Local Governments?

• Making Urban Local Bodies Financially Independent:
  • For the ULB to be independent and financially secure, fiscal decentralisation is very crucial.
  • Strengthening Municipal Revenue:
    • All Finance Commissions have recognized the need to augment property tax revenue to improve municipal finances. Especially:
      • The 12^th Finance Commission encouraged the use of the Geographical Information System (GIS) and digitization to improve property tax administration.
      • The 13^th Finance Commission mandated the setting up of the State Property Tax Board as one of the conditions necessary for performance grant eligibility of states.
        • The aim of the State Property Tax Board is to help municipal corporations and municipal councils put in place a transparent and efficient property tax regime.
      • The 14^th Finance Commission recommended that municipalities be enabled to levy vacant land tax.
• Better Financial Database:
  • Lack of maintenance and audit of accounts at the local level leaves no verifiable financial data for municipalities leading to a denial of performance grants.
    • Both the 13^th and the 14^th Finance Commissions included better data availability as a conditionality for accessing performance grants.
• Ensuring Active Citizen Participation:
  • For transparency and accountability in the governance process, there needs to be active citizen participation.
    • To ensure this, ULBs can create functional, decentralised platforms such as area sabhas and ward committees, which facilitate discussion and deliberation between elected representatives and citizens.
• Creating Citizen Grievance Redressal Mechanism:
  • ULBs can establish a technology-enabled platform to register complaints, which will make city governments responsive to the needs of citizens.
    • Through this mechanism, citizens should also be allowed to provide feedback and close complaints.
    • Addressing these structural and architectural problems of urban governance will ensure effective service delivery in cities, improving the quality of life for its citizens.

Drishti Mains Question Despite the constitutional mandate on democratic decentralisation in India, the growth of urban local bodies has been uneven and slow. Comment.