Public Administration Mains 2017 : Model Question and Answer - 48
Public Administration Mains 2017 : Model Question and Answer
(Public Administration Paper II / Chapter: Evolution of Indian Administration)
(Important) Question :
British Administration stifled the Village Self Rule in India. Comment . (20
Marks/250 Words)
Model Answer :
British rulers developed very complex and systematic network of administration in India in order to stronghold their control over political and economic situation of the country to promote their vested interests. The British-led bureaucracy had representation at central, provincial, district and sub-district level. This British control penetrated till village level afflicting village self rule. Villages were imposed with hefty taxes along with British strictly controlling their economic activities and livelihood opportunities. The British Government symbolically encouraged local self government as evident from Indian Resolution 1864, Mayo Resolution 1870 and Ripon Resolution. Decentralisation Commission Report 1909 and Montague Chelmsford Report on Constitutional Reforms 1918 recommended strengthening of local bodies, village self rule suffered considerably.
Even though on the face of things the British showed a devolution of power to local self governments, yet in subtle ways they ensured that power was retained by the officers appointed and accountable to the British administration.
After transfer of power in 1947, with Indianisation of bureaucracy inherited from British, it was widely realised that key to development of vast country like India lies in the development of villages by utilising indigenous intelligence of village community. Thus, in consonance with recommendation of some prominent committees viz. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, Sadiq Ali Committee, Ashok Mehta Committee and LM Singhvi Committee, concept of village self rule got constitutionalised as Panchayati Raj Institution(PRI)with 73rd Constitutional Amendment 1992. The Indian bureaucracy works in collaboration with PRIs adopting bottom -up approach of development with villages playing key role. (Total Words- 247)
(Linkages : British Administration and Village Self Rule, British Administration and Local Government, Independent India and Bottom-up-Approach)