Democratic Decentralised Governance in an Indian State of Mizoram

Abstract

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Democratic decentralised governance aims at the empowerment of the people for their participation or involvement in the development processes of their respective local areas. In Mizoram, prior to the passing of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act by the Indian Parliament in 1992, democratic decentralised governance institutions in existence were only District Councils at the district level and Village Councils at the grassroots level. Meanwhile, the Town Committee Act, 1955 passed by the first District Council for the establishment of a Town Committee in Aizawl had been constitutionally strengthened by the 74^th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992. </em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Though the 74^th Constitutional Amendment Act has the provision for establishment of appropriate Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in all the urban centres of the State, the Mizoram Government has set up democratic decentralised urban governance institution only in Aizawl. So, in order to democratically decentralise responsibility and powers to the people for their participation in the development process, the State Government has to empower Village Councils and also set up democratic institutions in most of the urban centres for the benefit of urban dwellers in Mizoram.</em></p>

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