Arvind Kumar Sharma, b. 1941, scholar of public administration.

In Indian context.

Local Government in India provides an insight into the system of urban local governance in India and traces its evolution since independence. Urban governments are the organs for promoting grass root democracy and providing not only civic services for the welfare of the local people but also for carrying out the task of urban development and planning. This book tries to analyze their role and existence in the face of rapid urbanization, population growth and industrialization.

Contributed research papers presented at a workshop organised by Centre for the Study of Law and Governance at Jawaharlal Nehru University in collaboration with the UNDP and UN-Habitat in April 2002.

India is an old civilization and its villages were self sufficient not only in food clothing and shelter, they were adept in the art of local self government. The Panchas or the local judges were held in high esteem and Panchas were considered equivalent to deities. The modern concept of local self government is a contribution from the west especially from England. The Panchayat administration and the Municipal administration are now statutory entities. It is a method to decentralise the administration. All these aspects have been discussed in this book in a historical dimension.