Local Government in Hands of Administrator, Isn't murder of Local Democracy?
Looks like there won’t be election in Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation before Durga Puja or precisely before January 2020 assuming that, now no one will take call when General Election is around, Second election during Monsoon and Cyclone Phase never a local election. Then winter and spring between Durga Puja, New Year and Holi would be the best options left for Local Government Election when Local Issues were not visible in front of voters, rather the weather would be much soothing for politics.
Well this means that Local Government will remain with Administrators for one year or so, which is not good for Local Democracy but that’s how the position of Mayor is treated in Municipal Bodies. As the past experience of development of city under part time administrator does not reminds of encouraging stories, yet it’s a thumb rule that is practiced in past and present. Perhaps it would be good for Government and City if a full time Administrator be placed in Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation with eager to innovation as well as down to earth in taking public together for grounding city dreams than dumping own ideas over city as one man council.
Just like in past it is often expressed that corporators with political ideology and without much education are the reason why Local Governments are corrupt as well as couldn’t ground projects on schedule might not be an excuse under Administrator. But is not fair to blame local corporators as source of all obstacles, perhaps yes because they are the only person accountable before people in every five years than administrators. So who will fix accountability of administrators in absence of election is something that often silence in Local Democracy.
Although 74th Constitutional Amendment Act speaks of empowerment of Local Government but in reality they have very little to say than what state and national Government enjoys in-terms of democracy at local level. Imagine can a state or nation be run by Administrator replacing Chief Minister and Prime Minister respectively. The answer is straight forward no, then the question is why often it’s local government that passes such phases without having it’s Mayor on board.
The simple answer is unpredictable delimitation process and reservation accommodation, often keeps changing in every other elections. Even though it was suppose to take place after each census, just like in Parliament and Assembly elections. But in case of Parliament and Assembly election the process often don’t take place as schedule nor it affects delay in elections.
However, it’s often frequent in case of local government election to accommodate various reservation including Women Reservation which is not in case Parliament and Assembly. Perhaps it’s high time Government must accept the local government delimitation along with Parliament and Assembly than doing it’s own. As the process neither benefits democracy nor helps development works in ground with change in ward boundary as well as nor encourages local leadership.
If the process gets simplified then it will definetly trigger a strong local government and benefit development of Cities. Although some argue a direct election of Mayor would be good for Cities but that will not get solutions until the Local Government have efficient administrator on board serving the city. As in India hiring of professionals managing cities are still in lower level of discussion, that needs tigger to avoid a Physics, Chemistry, Doctor, English or Odia Litreture, IIT or IIM etc. background civil servant serving as Municipal Commissioner or being appointed as part time officials of Smart City Limited a Company floated as special purpose vehicles to plan and build Smart City.
Yes it is India that lacks enough civil servants to govern India, which often reflects in Local Government appointments. Well a discussion on strong local government is a necessity and must get priority than often finding an excuse escape routes. Second Bhubaneswar will now have the option to benchmark whether it’s dreams gets realised in last five years by administration led by Mayor or will be fulfilled by Administrator in coming days or years.
The basic idea of Local Goernment was to get government as close to the people as possible. The more remote it is from the people, the more dangerous it becomes for nation, which means local government without peoples representative is dangerious to nation in log run. As strong local government is critical for nation building. Similarly resilient and effective governance and development at the local level provides the foundation for a strong nation. Local government has a clear comparative advantage in knowing and advocating the real needs of the community and can best take advantage of opportunities in the area of equity and social inclusion in service delivery.
Finally as true decentralisation involves putting local government at the heart of development through commitment and participation of all stakeholders in the devolution process, including a strong innovative savvy Mayor elected by its citizen and not Administrator appointed by Govt..
