Dr. M. Shylakumari
Assistant Professor of History, S.T.Hindu College, Nagercoil.
Local Self Government is the management of local affairs by such local bodies who have been elected by the local people. The importance of local self- government has been emphasized on two different principles. The first principle comprises of local bodies, which enjoy extensive powers to act in any way they like for the betterment of the community unless restricted by law in any sphere of activity. The second principle comprises of local bodies that cannot go beyond the specific functions defined for them in the various acts and statutes. The local self- government in India, in the sense of a representative organisation responsible to a body of electors, enjoying wide powers of administration and taxation and functioning both as a school for training in responsibility and a vital link in the chain of organisms that make up the Government of the country1. They provided for better education and good citizenship.
Historical roots of the local self government in India can be traced the ancient past, though their present patterns of urban and rural bodies reflect a distinct impact of the British period. Lord Ripon, who is rightly called the father of Local Self Government in India, passed two Resolutions on Local Self government, one in 1881 and the other in 1882.In his capacity as the Governor General of India (1880-84)2 his Resolutions on Local Self Government are great landmarks in the growth of the Local Self Government in the country.The historic resolution is regarded as a land marks in the development of Local government and is hailed as its Magna Carta.
The first outcome of this new resolution was making of legislations to enable local governments to give effect to the general schemes. In Madras, a committee was appointed by the government in 1882to report on the then existing Local Self Government and to suggest the needed reforms.3 Incorporating many of the recommendations made by the committee the District Municipalities Act IV of 1884 was passed.
The Madras Local Boards Act, 1884 and the Madras District Municipalities Act, 1884 had obvious defects, the enforcement of proper regulation of streets and buildings was not exercised properly and the general attitude of the local authorities was one of supreme apathy or lack of interest. This state of affairs continued for a period of 36 years until these Acts were repealed by another set of Acts in1919 and 1920 viz., the Madras Local Boards Act 1920 and the Madras District Municipalities Act, 1920, and the Madras Town Planning Act,1920 4. The Municipal Act of 1920 marks an important epoch in the history of the local self government of Kanyakumari District. As per this Act, four municipalities (i.e) Nagercoil, Padmanabhapuram, Kuzhithurai and Colachel were constituted in the area.
NAGERCOIL MUNICIPALITY
In 1956 Nagercoil Municipality town was merged with the government of Tamilnadu classified as II grade municipality. The Tamilnadu District Municipalities Act 1920 was extended to this municipality from 1-4-1959. Later in 1961 it was upgraded as first grade municipality. Then it became a selection grade municipality from12-10-1978. Again this municipality is upgraded as a special grade municipality with effect from 30-05-19885.
According to the 1957-1958 Nagercoil Municipal Administration Report, the area of the town was 8.4 square mile.But now the area of the town is 24.27 sq.km. The town is having four villages. They are Nagercoil gramam, Vadiveeswaram gramam, Vadasery gramam and Neendakarai gramam.
PADMANABHAPURAM MUNICIPALITY
The Urban Local Body (ULB) of Padmanabhapuram is a second grade Municipality in Kalkulam Taluk of Kanyakumari District. Its original name was Kalkulam. This fact has a reference in an inscription dated 753 Kollam Era (1578A.D)6.The Padmanabhapuram Municipality comprises some portions of Kalkulam and Thuckalay revenue villages 7. The Government of Travancore marked the boundaries of Padmanabhapuram Municipal area. The South of the Udayagiri fort on the main southern road including Kumarakovil, the east of Velimalai including Padmanabhapuram fort, Manali and Charodu, the west of Thiruvithamcodu including Mettukadai. In the north of the M.S.Road very near to the junction of Manali to Kumarakovil junction includes houses on both sides.
KUZHITHURAI MUNICIPALITY
In the erstwhile princely state of Travancore, the place named Kuzhithurai had a renowned place. The kings used to take bath in the Thamiraparani river at this place whenever they travel through this place. Hence this place is called Kulithurai. Later kuli- thurai was renamed as Kuzhithurai8. As per the tradition the place was a famous sea port known as “ Kuzhithurai” with the meaning ‘Deep Harbour’, from where the ancient merchants came across the Arabian sea during the ancient times. It is mentioned in the ancient Indian maps. This municipality was formed as a third grade municipality since its constitution. It is one of the oldest municipalities formulated in the state. It was upgraded as second grade municipality in 1998 9. The municipality consists of three revenue villages. They are Vilavancode, Nalloor and Pakode.
COLACHEL MUNICIPALITY
Colachel municipality was established in the erstwhile Travancore- Cochin Government during 1920 as III grade municipality. It is one of the oldest municipalities formulated in the state. The municipality consists of Colachel as its only revenue village within its jurisdiction and in its LPA. On 18th July 1994 Colachel Town was declared as a Heritage Town. It became a II Grade Municipality from 22.08.1998 onwards. Colachel municipality was upgraded as I grade on 2.12.2008 10.The municipality is headed by the Commissioner in the official side and the Chairman and his Council in the non- official side.
The municipalities consists of five functional departments. They are General Administration Department, Engineering Department, Revenue and Accounts Department, Public Health Department and Town planning Department. Each department consists of a Head who reports the Commissioner and functions as per the responsibilities prescribed in the municipal act.
The municipal councillors and the chairman were directly elected by the people. General election for all the wards were conducted 11.In order to provide adequate representation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women, seats were reserved. The official head and elected head jointly carryout the administration of municipalities with a view to provide basic amenities to the people of the municipalities. All the municipalities in Kanyakumari District contain substantial growth potential due to their geographical location that is a transit point to key tourist spots and a center that undertakes extensive service oriented activities.
The main economic activities of the municipality in Kanyakumari District are administrative services, agricultural marketing and tourism – allied activities. The municipalities has industries such as motor repair, rubber goods, rice and cotton milling. Which is the municipalities primary revenue generation potential. From the tax revenues, non- tax revenues, assigned revenue, grants and contributions sufficient revenues, were collected for the effective functioning of the municipalities. The municipalities spent this income for welfare services such as water, drainage, communication, electrification and public health.
The municipalities provide protected water supply to the people. The water pumped out of the dam is treated with chlorine and purified, then it supplied to the people. Under various programmes, bore wells, open wells have been drilled in various parts of the municipalities.
All the municipalities in Kanyakumari District have a solid waste management system having functional components in terms of collection, transportation, treatment and disposal. The municipalities have made proper arrangements for the removal of rubbish and filth. In the beginning bullock cart was used for the removal of collected rubbish and night soil to the compost yard. But now mini lorries and tippers are collecting the waste. Open dumping of disposal method is followed by the municipality in preparing compost manure. Every year the compost manure is auctioned publicly and the income goes to the municipalities.
The municipal authorities in Kanyakumari District maintain a good number of cement road, black topped roads and metalled roads. In addition the Highways Department is maintaining the highways within municipal limits. Bus stands were constructed in all municipalities for the convenience of the passengers. Availability of good drinking water, market and transport help this place to keep access with neighbouring areas.
The entire municipal areas are provided with lighting facilities. Most of the street lights are in the working condition. The municipalities are initiated the energy saving measures in street lights. The municipalities are giving much importance for public health.These municipal areas are noted for many educational institutions ranging from play schools to first grade college. But no educational institutions are maintained by these municipalities. They are maintained by the government and private managements. The municipal councils in Kanyakumari District encouraged the citizens to cultivate the habit of reading by starting library and reading rooms. These libraries had a collection of many books. Besides that various dailies, periodicals were purchased for the benefit of the daily readers. It helps the people to spend their leisure time in a useful manner. The municipal administration maintains parks, playgrounds and gardens for the entertainment of the people.
CONCLUSION
The real purpose of the local self- government is to make the country a better place to live in. It is an established fact that unless people co-operate and involve actively with the local affairs the municipality cannot do miracles. On the basis of the work performed by the municipalities we can easily discern that they are performing a key function and doing a yeoman service by making the people to live a life of healthy and happiness.
REFERENCES
- S.L.Goel and Shalini Rajneesh, Panchayat Raj in India, Theory and Practice, New Delhi, 2003, p.9.
- Vidhya Dhar Mahajan, British Rule in India, New Delhi, 1976, p.480.
- K.K. Bharadwaj, Indian Administration, New Delhi, 1984, p.148.
- M.Gopalakrishnan, Kanyakumari District Gazetteer, Madras, 1995, p.754.
- Report of the Nagercoil Municipality 1998.
- T.A.S. Vol. II, Trivandrum, 1925, p.126.
- Padmanabhapuram Municipal Council Administration Report, 1988-89, p.1.
- City Corporate Cum Business Plan for Kuzhithurai Municipality, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, Final Report, 2007, p.7.
- Government of Tamilnadu G.O.Ms.No.85, MAWS Department dated 22 May 1998.
- Government of Tamilnadu G.O.Ms.No.238, MA&WS (Election) Department, dated 2 December 2008.
- Report from the Inspector of Municipal Councils and Local Boards, Madras, dated 29 September 1958.