The following are different justifications given in favour of local government. Give them ranking and explain why you attach greater significance to a particular rationale than the others. According to you, on which of these rationales the decision of the Gram panchayat of Vengaivasal village was based? How?

a. Government can complete the projects with lesser cost with the involvement of the local community.

b. The development plans made by the local people will have greater acceptability than those made by the government officers.

c. People know their area, needs, problems and priorities. By collective participation they should discuss and take decisions about their life.

d. It is difficult for the common people to contact their representatives of the State or the national legislature.

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Solution

1^st Rank: c. People know their area, needs, problems and priorities. By collective participation they should discuss and take decisions about their lives. Local government by definition is meant for the local people of a particular area. It is based upon the assumption that the problems of an area are best understood and resolved by the local people. These decisions would be more rational and close to their problems. Thus, it is the most important aspect of local government.

2^nd Rank: b. The development plans made by the local people will have greater acceptability than those made by the government officers. This is because the decisions of local people are based upon an accurate knowledge of local requirements. This makes it the second most important aspect of local government.

3^rd Rank: d. It is difficult for the common people to contact their representatives of the State or the national legislature. This is because common people may not have the time or resources to approach authorities at state or even district level about issues that have been pending for a long time. This makes it the third most important rationale behind local government.

4^th Rank: a. Government can complete the projects with lesser cost with the involvement of the local community. Community involvement lessens the cost of projects. However, it is a less important aspect compared to the relevance of the development activities for local people. Thus, it is ranked fourth.

The decision of the gram panchayat of Vengaivasal village was based upon the knowledge of people about their local area, needs, problems and priorities. Collective participation enabled the people to discuss and take decisions about issues that affected their life. The decision of the government was taken without the consent of the Panchayat. Thus, it was violation of the right of the people to decide upon issues that affected them.

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