Maharashtra Board Class 6 Civics Chapter 4 Urban Local Government Bodies PDF Download

Urban Local Government Bodies

In the previous chapter, we have studied the nature of the local government bodies in the rural areas. In this chapter, we will learn something about the local government institutions in the urban areas. These include the Nagar Panchayat, the Municipal Council and the Municipal Corporation.

Our country has a large number of towns and cities and they are growing rapidly. Villages are growing into towns, towns into cities and cities into metropolises. The rural areas neighbouring cities are also getting transformed.

Facilities And Problems In Cities

Opportunities for industry and business:

1. Opportunities for industry and business

2. Expanding service sector

3. Large scale opportunities for jobs

4. Availability of facilities for entertainment, art, culture, etc.

Problems in cities:

1. Shortage of housing

2. Insufficient space

3. Traffic congestion

4. Problem of disposal of waste

5. Increasing crime

6. A large proportion of population in slums

Teacher's Note

Cities have many good things like jobs and fun activities. But they also have big problems like too much traffic and not enough houses. Just like our own city has grown, it has good and bad things too.

Exam Trick

Remember the problems by thinking about your own city. Traffic jam = congestion. No space for new houses = shortage of housing. Garbage everywhere = waste disposal problem.

Points to Remember

Cities have many job opportunities and business chances.
Cities have problems like traffic, waste, and housing shortage.
Villages are growing into towns and towns into cities.
Urban areas need local government bodies to manage these problems.

What Are The Main Problems That Cities Face?

Reshma had spent a wonderful Diwali vacation with her relatives in a city. However, she began to think about some of her experiences. Think along with Reshma about these incidents and write your thoughts in two paragraphs.

The siren of the ambulance sounded loud and clear but there was no free way on the road.

As a result of the decision to cut the water supply, there was a great crowd at the water supply tankers.

Efforts were being made to provide facilities to senior citizens and small children in the parks.

4.1 Nagar Panchayat

The villages that are in the process of becoming towns have a Nagar Panchayat. We see some areas which are neither fully rural nor fully urban. In such areas, the local government body is the Nagar Panchayat. As with other local bodies, elections to a Nagar Panchayat are held every five years. The elected members choose a President and a Vice-President from among themselves.

Teacher's Note

A Nagar Panchayat is for areas that are becoming towns but are not fully towns yet. Like villages near our big cities that are slowly growing into towns.

Exam Trick

Nagar Panchayat = semi-town. Remember: Nagar means city, Panchayat means five people. So it is a small government for small towns.

Points to Remember

Nagar Panchayat is for areas that are between villages and towns.
Elections are held every five years.
Members choose a President and Vice-President.
It is the local government body for growing areas.

All local government bodies have to carry out some essential functions. What, according to you, are the essential functions of a Nagar Panchayat?

4.2 The Municipal Council

The Municipal Council is the local government body for small cities. Elections to the Council are held every five years. The elected representatives function as Councillors. As per the recent changes in the Act relating to Municipal Councils, the President is elected directly by the people. There is a provision to hold the election of the President simultaneously with the general election of the Council.

The President of the Municipal Council is the chairman of all its meetings. He controls the working of the Council and keeps a watch on the financial administration of the Council. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President looks after the work of the Council.

There are some functions that are binding on the Council. These are known as obligatory functions, for example, lighting of public streets, providing drinking water, public hygiene, sewage disposal, registration of birth/death/marriage, etc.

The Municipal Council also tries to provide additional facilities to the people and these functions are known as discretionary functions. Planning new public roads and acquiring the necessary land, improving the condition of slums, creating public gardens and parks, providing secure shelters for cattle are some of the discretionary functions of the Municipal Council.

For every Municipal Council, there is a Chief Officer. He implements the decisions taken by the Municipal Council. There are several officers who assist him.

Teacher's Note

Municipal Council looks after small cities like our district town. They must do basic things like give water and light. This is like how your school must teach children - that is mandatory.

Exam Trick

Obligatory = must do. Discretionary = nice to have. Remember: You must drink water (obligatory), but you may like a garden too (discretionary).

Points to Remember

Municipal Council is for small cities.
President is elected directly by people.
Obligatory functions are things the Council must do.
Discretionary functions are extra things the Council can do.
Chief Officer implements all the decisions.

Would you like to become such an officer? If you become a Health Officer, what functions would you perform?

The Sources Of Revenue Of The Municipal Council

Property Tax

Water Tax

Education Tax

Tax on Markets

Grants from State Government

Appeal from the Municipal Council

Calling all citizens to take the following measures to stop breeding of mosquitoes and curb the spread of dengue:

1. Do not stack old tyres, coconut shells, empty cans or boxes on your terrace or around your house.

2. In case of persistent fever go to a doctor without delay.

3. Keep your surroundings clean.

In response to the above, what would you do in your house and in the surroundings?

What Would You Do?

1. When you hand over your household waste to the waste pickers.

2. The road is waterlogged as the water pipe has broken.

3. You notice that unclean, impure water is being used for pani puris.

4. Many people are throwing plastic bags from the bridge into the river.

5. The Municipal Council's programme to clean the slum areas has been published in the newspaper, but you think that one of the planned actions is improper.

4.3 Municipal Corporation

The local body that provides different services to the people in big cities is called Municipal Corporation. The first Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra was established at Mumbai.

Find out: In how many cities of Maharashtra State is the administration carried out through Corporations? In which year was the Municipal Corporation of your city established?

Administration Of The Corporation

The Municipal Commissioner is the head of the administration of the Corporation. He is responsible for implementing the decisions taken by the Corporation. For example, if a Corporation takes the decision of putting a ban on the use of plastic bags, then the actual implementation of this policy is done by the Commissioner. He also prepares the annual budget of the Corporation and remains present for the general body meetings.

The total number of members of a Municipal Corporation is determined so as to be in proportion to the population of the city. The elections to the Corporation are held every five years. The elected members are known as Corporators. They elect a Mayor and a Deputy Mayor from among themselves. The Mayor is considered to be the first citizen of the city. He presides over all the meetings of the Corporation. Many important issues regarding the city are discussed, and decisions regarding the development of the city are made in the General Body meeting of the Corporation. According to the changes introduced in the election process of the Municipal Corporation, multi-member wards are created. From each ward, not less than three and not more than five members are elected. The voter can cast as many votes as the number of members to be elected from the ward. Thus, a voter can cast four votes if four members are to be elected from the ward.

The Committees Of The Corporation

The Corporation carries out its work through different committees. Some of the important committees are Education Committee, Health Committee, Transport Committee, etc.

Teacher's Note

Municipal Corporation runs big cities like Mumbai and Delhi. The Mayor is like the President of the city. Just like your school principal looks after the whole school, the Mayor looks after the whole city.

Exam Trick

Municipal Corporation = biggest city government. Remember: Corporation is bigger than Council. Council is for small cities. Corporation is for big cities like Mumbai.

Points to Remember

Municipal Corporation is for big cities.
Mayor is the first citizen of the city.
Municipal Commissioner is the head of administration.
Members are called Corporators.
Elections are held every five years.

Form an Education Committee for your class. The Committee should have an equal number of boys and girls as representatives. They should discuss the following issues and prepare a report.

a) Facilities in the classroom

b) A proposal for setting up a small library for the class

c) Organising a sports competition

Do You Know?

The proportion of women in the total population is nearly half. Yet, very few women are seen to take part in the working of the government. Women handle issues like food, energy, water every day as part of their daily routine but they had no say in the decisions regarding these issues. A woman takes care of the water in the house but she did not participate in dealing with water issues. With fifty percent reservation for women in the local bodies, they now have got an opportunity to resolve important issues.

This is a preview of the first 3 pages. To get the complete book, click below.