ZENITH International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research ______ISSN 2231-5780 Vol.8 (7), JULY (2018), pp. 1-9 Online available at zenithresearch.org.in

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN TRIPURA: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

DR. DEBOTOSH CHAKRABORTY

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE UNIVERSITY, ASSAM, EMAIL: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Tripura had a long tradition of local self-government and it was existed in the form of Village institutions. These traditional village level institutions were based on tribal customs, which took important decisions on matters pertaining to the community as a whole and on disputes occurring among its members. However, there was a gradual decline in the role of traditional Village Councils and in 1929 the last king of Tripura initiated an Act, which made considerable departure from the traditional way of governance. With the merger of Tripura with India the process further developed. There was no effort made to revive the traditional way of governance rather the Government enacted the Tripura Panchayati Raj Act, 1959, and with this the age old village council was abolished. Later, the entire structure of local self-government was changed and three-tier Panchayat system was introduced under the Tripura Panchayat Act, 1993. Since then two decades have passed but the Panchayats are yet to emerge as institutions of self-government. It is expected that in the days to come the Panchayats will become a self-sufficient body and will develop itself as a unit of service delivery under the new guidelines provided by the Fourteenth Finance Commission.

KEYWORDS: Administration, Panchayat, Self-government, Village Council.

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ZENITH International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research ______ISSN 2231-5780 Vol.8 (7), JULY (2018), pp. 1-9 Online available at zenithresearch.org.in

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