Grassroots Democracy-Part 3: Local Government in Urban Areas-Chapter Review and Key Points Social Science Class 6 In English-CBSE Notes

Chapter 12. Grassroots Democracy – Part 3: Local Government in Urban Areas

This chapter explains how local government works in cities and towns. It introduces urban local bodies, their different levels and functions, and shows how citizens participate in local governance and help their communities.

Chapter Review

1. Urban Local Bodies

Local government structures in urban areas are called Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). They are decentralised institutions that allow local communities to participate in managing their areas and solving local problems.

• Urban local bodies function in cities and towns.
• They bring government closer to the people.
• They allow local communities to have a direct say in matters affecting their areas.
• They work through elected representatives.
• The exact structure and functioning may differ from State to State.

2. Participatory Democracy

Participatory democracy means a system in which citizens actively participate in the functioning and decision-making of their government.

• Citizens are not merely voters; they also have responsibilities towards their community.
• People can raise local problems and suggest solutions.
• Citizen participation helps local bodies work more efficiently.
• Everyone's voice matters in a democracy.

3. Wards

Cities and towns are divided into smaller administrative units called wards.

• A ward is a smaller unit within a city or town.
• People living in a ward participate in local affairs.
• Ward committees facilitate various local activities.
• They may organise health camps and awareness campaigns.
• They can help monitor local problems such as water leaks, blocked drains and damaged roads.
• Ward-related rules and functioning may differ from State to State.

4. Ward Committee

A Ward Committee helps facilitate local activities and keeps an eye on problems affecting people living in a ward.

• It helps organise local activities.
• It may conduct health camps.
• It can organise campaigns against single-use plastics.
• It observes problems such as water leakage and blocked drains.
• It reports local problems to the concerned authorities.

5. Types of Urban Local Bodies

The type of urban local body depends mainly on the size and population of the city or town.

6. Municipal Corporation

A Municipal Corporation is the highest urban local body in cities with a population above 10 lakh.

• It functions in large cities.
• It provides a wide range of civic services.
• It manages infrastructure and public facilities.
• It is responsible for several important local services.
• It collects certain local taxes and charges.
• It has a role in economic and social development planning.

7. Municipal Council

A Municipal Council, also called a Nagar Palika, is the highest urban local body in cities with a population between 1 and 10 lakh.

• It works in medium-sized cities and towns.
• It provides civic services to local residents.
• It manages local infrastructure and public facilities.
• It collects certain local taxes and charges.

8. Nagar Panchayat

A Nagar Panchayat is an urban local body for smaller cities and towns.

• It provides local civic services.
• It deals with local infrastructure and public needs.
• It represents the principle of decentralised local governance.

9. Functions of Urban Local Bodies

Urban local bodies perform many functions that directly affect the daily lives of citizens.

• Maintenance of local infrastructure.
• Garbage collection and disposal.
• Maintenance of burial grounds.
• Collection of local taxes and fines.
• Checking implementation of government schemes.
• Planning for economic development.
• Planning for social development.
• Providing water-related services.
• Managing local cleanliness and sanitation.
• Addressing citizens' grievances.

10. Services Provided by Urban Local Bodies

The example of the Indore Municipal Corporation shows the wide range of services that an urban local body may provide.

• Property tax services.
• Water charges and water tanker services.
• Solid waste management.
• Business, hoarding and trade licences.
• Marriage certificates.
• Fire services.
• Various licences.
• Debris clearance.
• Tree cutting and tree transportation services.
• Citizen grievance services.
• Septic tanker services.
• Auditorium services.
• Funeral van services.
• Mobile toilet services.
• Ambulance services.

11. Sources of Funds

Urban local bodies need money to perform their functions and provide services to citizens.

• Property tax is an important source of local revenue.
• Water charges can provide revenue.
• Fees for licences and certificates may generate income.
• Some services provided by urban local bodies may be paid services.
• Local taxes and fines also contribute to their funds.

12. Duties of Responsible Citizens

Urban local bodies can perform their functions efficiently only when citizens also fulfil their responsibilities.

• Follow rules related to waste segregation.
• Keep public places clean.
• Report water leakage promptly.
• Report damaged roads and blocked drains.
• Use public facilities responsibly.
• Cooperate with local authorities.
• Take care of the cleanliness and environment of the area.
• Participate in local activities whenever possible.

13. Waste Segregation

Waste segregation means separating different types of waste so that they can be collected, treated and disposed of properly.

• Citizens should follow instructions regarding waste segregation.
• Proper segregation makes garbage collection easier.
• It supports better waste management.
• It helps keep cities cleaner.

14. History of Municipal Administration in India

The Madras Corporation, now known as the Greater Chennai Corporation, is the oldest municipal institution in India.

• It was established on 29 September 1688.
• The East India Company issued a charter in the previous year.
• The charter constituted the town of Fort St. George and territories within 16 km of the Fort into a corporation.
• A Parliamentary Act of 1792 gave the Madras Corporation the power to levy municipal taxes.
• This marked the proper beginning of municipal administration there.

15. Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, originally called the Bombay Municipal Corporation, was created in 1865.

• It is one of the historically important municipal institutions in India.
• Its history shows the long development of urban local government in India.

16. Indore and Cleanliness

Indore in Madhya Pradesh has been recognised as the cleanest city in India under the Swachh Survekshan government scheme for seven years in a row.

• Urban cleanliness requires the cooperation of citizens.
• Citizens play an important role in keeping their surroundings clean.
• Proper waste management and responsible behaviour support cleanliness.
• Local government and citizens must work together for better results.

17. Rural and Urban Local Government

18. Importance of Urban Local Bodies

• They bring governance closer to citizens.
• They help solve local problems.
• They provide essential civic services.
• They encourage citizen participation.
• They support urban development.
• They provide a platform for local representation.
• They strengthen democracy at the grassroots level.

19. Everyone's Voice Matters

Urban governance may appear more complicated than rural governance, but the basic democratic idea remains the same—everyone's voice matters.

• Citizens elect representatives.
• Citizens can raise local issues.
• People can cooperate with local authorities.
• Children can also identify and report local problems.
• Active participation makes democracy stronger.

Important Definitions

• Urban Local Body: A decentralised local government institution that functions in an urban area.
• Participatory Democracy: A system in which citizens actively participate in governance and decision-making.
• Ward: A smaller administrative unit into which a city or town is divided.
• Ward Committee: A local committee that facilitates activities and monitors issues in a ward.
• Municipal Corporation: The highest urban local body in a city with a population above 10 lakh.
• Municipal Council: The highest urban local body in a city with a population between 1 and 10 lakh.
• Nagar Panchayat: An urban local body for smaller cities and towns.
• Waste Segregation: The process of separating different types of waste for proper management.
• Local Governance: The administration of local affairs by local government institutions.
• Decentralisation: The distribution of decision-making powers away from a central authority towards lower or local levels.

Key Points to Remember

• ✔ Chapter 12 deals with Local Government in Urban Areas.
• ✔ Urban local government works through decentralised urban local bodies.
• ✔ Cities and towns are divided into wards.
• ✔ Ward committees help address local issues and organise activities.
• ✔ Cities with population above 10 lakh have a Municipal Corporation as their highest urban body.
• ✔ Cities with population between 1 and 10 lakh have a Municipal Council.
• ✔ Smaller cities and towns have a Nagar Panchayat.
• ✔ Urban local bodies provide many civic services.
• ✔ Garbage collection and disposal are important functions of urban local bodies.
• ✔ Urban local bodies collect local taxes, charges and fines.
• ✔ Citizens also have duties towards their local area.
• ✔ Waste segregation makes garbage collection easier.
• ✔ The Madras Corporation was established on 29 September 1688.
• ✔ The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai was created in 1865.
• ✔ Indore has been recognised as India's cleanest city under Swachh Survekshan for seven years in a row.
• ✔ Urban and rural local governments differ in structure but share the basic goal of local participation.
• ✔ Active citizens are essential for successful participatory democracy.

All Topics Chapter Grassroots Democracy-Part 3: Local Government in Urban Areas

• 1. Chapter Review and Key Points
• 2. Urban Local Bodies