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Scanning the Region's Grassroots Administration
LOCAL Government Is one of the foundation stones of politics and administration in any country. This particularly true of our country where democracy at all levels has never been practiced in its exact sense. The history of Local Government in South Asia is replete with efforts at developing local administrative systems during ancient, medieva. and British periods and some of the models like "Panchayat". "Srarnjanapada". "Panchakula* etc. were considered innovative and acclaimed by scholars throughout the world. Although it is claimed by many scholars that local government •in this region had Its origin during British rule, it can be said safely that in reality the seeds were sown during cen turies preceding the advent of the British. In fact, what the British did was to reshape and remodel the existing system to meet their own needs.
Public administration as an academic discipline tn Bangladesh to fairly new; Local Government as a sub-field to even newer. In such a context Kamal Siddiqui's book "Local Government In South Asia: A Comparative Study' is definitely a worthy contribution. They book to composed of nine brief chapters. These deal with Local Government in South Aste — a short Introduction, the Local Government System in India. Pakistan. Bangladesh. Nepal, Bhutan. Maldives and finally an overview of the system In South Asia.
The first chapter starts with a short introduction of the South Asian countries — Bangladesh. India. Pakistan. Nepal. Bhutan. Srl Lanka and Maldives, and concentrates on the common and distinctive features of their Local Governments: Local
Government in South Asia ap pears to be almost the same despite some local variations.
South Asia being distinguished by both unity and dl versity to characterised by low productivity, extreme poverty, growing In equality and high population density and growth rate. Economic drain and political and cultural subjugation under colonialism was a basis for a' common heritage.
- Even then there are conslderablc differences among the region’s political systems: political democracy in India and Sri Lanka, non-party presidential systems tn the Maldives, monarchy In Bhutan and Nepal, and until recently, direct or indirect military rule In Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Local Government as a field of study has been defined in this book in terms of five attributes: firstly, its statutory status: secondly, tts power to raise finance by taxation in the area under its jurisdiction: thirdly, participation of the local community in decision making In specified subjects and in administration: fourthly, the freedom to act Independently of central control: and lastly, its general purpose in contrast to the single purpose character of many autonomous bodies
The book covers different aspects of the local government system in South Asia such as the evolution of local government, local government units In terms of structure, composition and functions, local government finance, personnel system in the local government. central-local relationships. Issues and problems. The befok Is finally concluded with an overview — highlighting the differences and similarities among South Asian countries, Identifying the underlying reasons for these, summing up the major findings and suggesting possible future courses of action.
Chapter two deals with the evolution, nature and various aspects of local government in India such as personnel administration. financial control etc. and problems thereof.
In India. Local Government is considered to be a state subject. There the system of supervision and control over the l’anchayetl Raj Institution and Municipalities varies from state to state. However, despite the existence of a powerful central (union) government. the state governments
exercise control over such Important subjects as public order, police, administration of Justice, agriculture, water supply and Irrigation, education. public health, land industries and local government. They have also been given the right to levy taxes Io raise revenue for the administration and to determine policies relating to land use and land distribution as well as industrial and agricultural developments within the slates.
Chapter three analyses the evolution and present pattern of Local Government in Pakistan and problems thereof. Evolution of local government in Pakistan followed almost identical patterns during the British and the pre-Britlsh period. The traditional authoritarian structure of administration from the centre to province to district Is some-
what tempered by representative institutions. The existing local governments at various levels in Pakistan owe their existence to the uniform system of local government that was Introduced in 1979 through the promulgation of various local government ordinances.
Chapter four reviews the development of local government in Bangladesh from British period up to now. focusing on various issues and problems in this regard. The history of local government in Bangladesh is the product of the past hundred years.
Since 1982 significant dc-volutionary changes have been introduced by the government In the field of rural local government in order to bolster rural local bodies, to lake administration nearer to the people through local bodies, and to facilitate people's participation in administration so that the fruits of development can reach the doorsteps of the rural poor.
Chapter five deals with the historical evolution of local government in Sri Lanka and its relevant features as well as problems. It goes without saying that an indigenous form of local government existed In Srl lanka from time immemorial but this was very weak in nature. Local government in Sri Lanka is a single tier system with multipurpose authorities. Local authorities operate essentially In independent and elected bodies with duties and functions assigned to them by acts of parliament subject to certain degree of control by the centre. Sri Lanka has got four types of local bodies — Municipal councils. Town councils. Urban councils and Village councils.
Chapter six Is concerned with the general features and problems of local government In Nepal. The evolution of local government tn Nepal can be traced back to an earlier pe rlod of Nepalese history. Thus the Keralas administrative system was well organised and consisted of a centre and a local part. The relation between central and local was cordial and warm. The local administratfon waa divided into Thana and Oram administration, more or less similar to the present district administration and village panchayat administration. In view of the recent changes of the governmental system the district panchayat. Vlllage/Nagar Panchayat now stands distanced from the autocratic rule of the king and his democrats, following the removal and replacement of the existing set of non-ofllclal functionaries. It has been hinted that the format of local government in Nepal Is to be finalised by the legislature elected recently on the basis of multiparty democracy.
Chapter seven deals with the evolutionary history and current features of the local government system in Bhutan. The emergence of modern Bhutan can be traced back to the early seventeenth century when a prominent Tibetan Drukpa Lama. Nagawang Namgyal lost a power struggle In Tibet. The era of modern government In Bhutan Is young and the Institutions are still in the early stage of evolution. It was since 1950's that some modern government structures were added to the existing situation. At present, besides the monarchy, the important government political structures/tnstltutions at the central level are: (a) National Assembly, (b) Royal Advisory Council, (c) Cabinet of Ministers, (d) High Court and (e) Monastic establishment.
It Is obvious that local government in the sense it is meant in the current literature
is still absent In Bhutan, although elements of decentralisation and representative government have been Introduced partially In local level administration of rural areas through the District Development Council and elected village headman. There Is also, as admitted In the country, seventh plan, a tendency towards a uniformity (despite public commitment for decentralisation) owing to bureaucratization of the decision making process. This tends to erode of the base o( local community leadership and cause lack of participation in planning and implementation of development programmes.
Chapter eight consists of evolutionary development and the current issues and problems of the local government system In Maldives. Four levels of administration have existed In the Maldives namely — Wards. Islands. Attlas and the Central Government. It is quite apparent that there is a high degree of centralisation In the administrative setup of the Maldives. In certain historical periods, there were some semblances of local autonomy and self-government In modem times there was an attempt to convert focal administration into self-government units but in the end. centralizing tendencies seem to have prevailed. However leniently wc may define local government. this does not exist in the present day Maldives. What Is seen in the Maldives is administrative decentralisation
and some rudimentary elements of focal representative. However, the present constitution of the Maldives also does nol provide for any local government setup
Chapter nine may be considered as the summary of previous discussions where brief comparison of South Aslan focal governments had been made
Perhaps Kamal Siddiqui's book is the only comprehensive study of South Asian focal government, yet there Ip still the scope of doing more extensive comparative study of these focal governments. For example, an analysts on the issue of decentralization Could luive been made. At the end of the book the author could have presented his own recommendations to improve the present workings of focal governments. Moreover, a little theoretical discussion could have been made side by side. The price of the book seems to be very high but that, of course, is always the case with all UPL publications. Local Government In Bangladesh Is one of the fundamental areas of study and research In public administration because of the expanding role and involvement of local government In development, particularly rural development. Research interest and efforts have been geared up quite a bit in this sphere of administration. Thus, the book will be of immense help to researchers, practitioners and students of public administration and related disciplines.