73rd and 74th Constitution Amendment Acts

The Constitution of India has been amended several times to ensure that the principles of participative governance are enshrined in the Indian democratic system. One example of this is the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution, which were introduced in 1992 and provide for local self-government and empower local bodies to participate in decision-making at the grassroots level.

The 73rd Amendment introduced the concept of Panchayati Raj, which is a system of local self-government at the village, block, and district levels. It aimed to ensure democratic decentralization of power and to promote participatory democracy. The Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) were given powers and functions to promote the economic development and social justice of the rural areas. The Amendment mandated the holding of regular elections to these institutions and ensured the participation of women and marginalized groups in the decision-making process.

The 74th Amendment introduced a similar system of local self-government for urban areas. It mandated the creation of urban local bodies such as Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and Nagar Panchayats to govern urban areas. These institutions were given powers and functions to provide basic services such as water supply, sanitation, and solid waste management, as well as to promote economic development and social justice in urban areas. The Amendment mandated regular elections to these institutions and ensured the participation of women and marginalized groups in the decision-making process.

Overall, the 73rd and 74th Amendments were crucial steps in ensuring participative governance in India. They empowered local self-government bodies to participate in decision-making at the grassroots level, ensured the participation of women and marginalized groups, and promoted democratic decentralization of power.