Rural Power Structure (Definition) aes inpittany — alnngs. olive aigaters 2's Seusaird Power is an integral dynamics of polities. It can be defined as the degree of control over material human, intellectual, financial exercised by different section of society. That power may be social political, and nil sometimes unequal resources, Sociology treat power as Gentralized, Bogardus says, political society think that power is ye Téefused SS compact oe - . r 2» Weofsl, Karl Marx differentiate power, in the view of class, he has said that those who belong the yes production instrument, the more powerful in the society. frets yes’ Element/ Bases/ Variables of Rural Power Structure: The element of power may also be considered as the bases of power or power bases. These are discussed below: \A Agricultural Resource: Power is based on agricultural resources. Such as land, labor. Capital equipment etc. the Owner of the land exercise power to the labor, land is the Basic unit of production and determine the power of the man those who have more land have more power in the rural areas. Social status also determine by the land. Those families possess more land the children got highest education and also got marriage in the high family. In this way a land owner is strength in economically and he maintained or contro! many people. An individual got control many people. An individual t higher status due qo land owing and also his children got opportunity to get higher education as well as they also connected in town. So we can say that owners of land holding or agricultural resources are the important element in the rural power structure. Economic Source: Economic strength is one of the important elements in the rural ‘power structure. Economic strength is build up by the non agricultural sector. Such as business people who are powerful control other within his or other family members. Those families are economically strength connected other strength person in the soci by married, They are appropriate person who can competition in the chairman of union praised or member etc. ; | KZ Lineage: Big and higher lineage people ate more powerful inthe rural power structure acce3 |S “Because they have large numberof people in their Hineage, Besides these in curl society re ee cee higher lineage people got honor and respect. People obey them respectfully. They ce 10 $44: influence other family or ‘members of the rural society. ree, PT -Education: Education is an important element on the society. Through education people ‘become socialized. Their mind become wider and their national outlook increase. The tedueated person got respect from people, Inthe rural area the people obey or respect the Educated person influence in the rural power structure, The rural people go to the Gducated man for advice, Many people go to the educated man to inquire their land document. In this way educated person took the place in the rural power structure. 5 EreditLloan: In rural area some people have more wealth or money. Those are called MOHAJON. They are more powerful in from them and so, they exercise power to the Foor people or poor farmer's landless farmers brought loan from them toJays an influential role in the power, structure of village ion Perished is the Papasan cen tration of village. In rural area those people have la ‘group competent with their oppositions. To participate_in_the_power Structure one group try to competent to others. And those have a big kinship group have support to hold the power. 7 Rural Elite: V_ Pareto first uses the term elite. It has been come from a French language. The world elite were first used to indicate government or ruler. But now the idea has been changed. Now elite refers to higher class or superior person. The elite is divided into two types--- (1) Ruling elite. (2) Non ruling elite. When elite hold the power or exercise the power then they called ruling elite, When they don’t exercise the power them called non ruling elite. In the rural area the elite class holds the power. They often hold the economic, political power for their own needs. This mahjong controls the poor people to their own needs. <8Urban Area: Those who live in the urban or connect with the urban people got respect from the_rural people. Our rural people are very simply in nature they thought that the urban dwellers are very powerful and they have the right to_get respect. So this urban dwellers exercise power from the rural people. ~-9-Connection with the Political Parties: The village people who don’t directly involve in politics but conscious also about it. Many group live in the village that Supports different political parties. Those who involved in the political parties thought themselves powerful. Especially those supports the ruling poverty seems to themselves powerful and controls the village people. They always iry to solve the rural problem. So it is seem that to use the political background people exercise the power in the rural area. _40-Connection with Bureaucracy: It is another element to exercise the power of the rural area, Those who are connected any bureaucrat thought he powerful. Modernization of Agriculture: Generally rural people use the traditional method in cultivation, But now many new technology used in the production. Those who uses this technology in village area are rich peasant seem to themselves power.LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN BANGLADESH: AN OVERVIEW Definition: —*, is meant for management of local c ee n igement of local affairs by locally elected persons. If Covernment’s officers or their henchmen are brought to run the local bodies, there is no sense in taining them as Local Government Bodies.” Historical Background: Major Milestone ‘Prexcolonial period» * Panchayat system. Self-governing village communities characterized by agrarian economies had existed in India from the earliest times. Not only are they mentioned in Rig Veda, which dates from approximately 1200 BC, there is also definite evidence available of the existence of village “sabahas" (councils or assemblies) and "gramins" (senior peson of the village) until about 600 BC. These village bodies, which weré™called “the little republics” by Sir Charles Metcalfe (Governor General 1835-36), were the lines of contact with higher authorities on matter affecting the villages. They were caste-ridden feudal structures. ‘Colonial Period’ * The Bengal Village Chowkidai Act of 1870 established panhayats with individuals nominated by collectors with the sole purpose of levying and collecting chowkidari tax” for the maintenance of village watchmen, Four year terms. «The Bengal Municipal Act, 1884 for urban local government of Bengal, Orissa and Assam. «The Bengal Self-Government Act, 1885 provided for three-tier structure for rural Bengal ~ the district board, the local board (for sub-division) and the union committee. Members of the lnion committee and local board were elected by a restricted electorate and the district board members were indirectly elected. The district board was made the principal unit of local self- govemment and the collector was the chair, exercising the real authority. Local board was spoliched in 1936. Number of union committees was very limited. Elected chairman on an. experimental basis introduced in 1916. Five year terms. The Bengal Village Self-Government Act, 1919 provided for the creation of elected union Goards with restricted electorates. Women were allowed to vote in 1950. The union board was given three types of funetions: normal municipal funetions such as sanitation, conservancy, water Bipply, maintenance of roads and drains; regulatory functions such as control over the ccnetssction of buildings; and development functions such as promotion of cottage industries, sort establishment of primary schools or libraries, The board also exercised control over local police. Pakistan'Period: se The Basic Democracies Order, 1959 covered both urban and rural local government. It provided for four tiers: Union Council, Thana Council, District Council and Divisional Council2|Page Bangladesh Period * Bangladesh President's Order No. 7 of 1972 changed the name of union parishad to union panchayat. President’s Order No, 22 of 1973 renamed it as union Parishad. * Paurashava Act, 1973. Amendment in 1977, ¢ The Local Government Ordinance, 1976 created Gram Sabha, lated named Gram Sarkar. The Local Goverment (Thana Parishad and Thana Administration Reorganization) Ordinance, 1982 introduced Upazila system with elected chairman, ¢ The Local Government (Union Parishad) Ordinance, 1983 (First Amendment 1993; Second Amendment 1997 - UPs sub-divided into 9 wards) + The Local Government (Upazila Parishad and Upazila Administration Reorganization (Repeal) Ordinance, 1991 Creation of the Thana Development Coordination Committee, 1992 with MPs as advisors. © The Gram Parishad Act, 1997. High Court embargo. The Upazila Parishad Act, 1998, not yet implemented.Present Structure of Local Gov it ‘nme Local Government in Bangladesh Rural System. Urban System Zila Parishad (None) City Corporations (6) Thana (469) Paurashavas (286) Union Parishads (486) . Gram Sarkar (1,92,348) ‘Major Issues: \7_ Undue Bureaucratic Control \ Exclusionary Participation of Women Financial Disenpowerment Compromising the Viability of Local Bodies Lack of Mobilization of Local Resources Lack of Financial Devolution: Spends Tk. | crore. Allocation of about Tk. 250 crores from ADP for Upazilas . Concentration of Powers and Authorities Proposals to Further Empower MPs Proposed Gram Sarkar: MP Sarkar Use for Patronage» ‘Non-ompliance with the Court Order Too Many Laws and Circulars which are Meaningless and Contradictory Lack of Skills and Competence Widespread Corruption Possible Reform Areas: LA Constitutional Amendment to Settle the Outstanding Issues: Fiscal Devolution, Tiers etc. » Confine the Role MPs to exercising Legislative authority ysKANNG OSS Functions of Local Government Under the Local Government Act 1989, the function of local government is very broad. Section 1 of the Act and Section 3A of the Act state that local government's purpose is ‘...the peace, order and good governance...’ of their municipal district, In practice, this means that individual councils can determine what they need to do to ensure“...the peace, order and good govemance...” of their municipalities, Essential! cach council makes its own decisions based on its collective beliefs, the advice it receives, various financial considerations, legislative powers and so on, “4|Page What does local government. do? Councils achieve their goals and fulfil their functions in various ways: Planning & monitoring: Local governments set. the ov planning. Examples erall_ direction for their municipalities through include ong-term couneil “plans, financial plans, municipal ~ strategic Statements and other strategic plans. Setting the vision, and then ensuring that it is achieved, is One of the most important roles of local government, managing and delivering a range of their communities, such as public he: quality services to alth and rect public libraries, — s, local road maintenance, and Lawmaking & enforcement Local governments legislate and make decisions legislative authority. Local laws are not in areas over federal laws or the operative allowed to replicate or be inconsi which they have planning scheme. stent with state and The laws made by local governments are called local laws and cover sues such as the activities permitted on public land, animal management, and use of governments are also responsible for enforcin infrastructure. Local 8 local laws and other legislation over which they have authority ‘Policy developments The activities of local governments are guided by gl policies. Developing these policies are key functions. g and implementing ‘Representation Councils often represent their local con Local governments have a role in advocating on behalf oftheir constituencies to state and feral levels of government, statutory authorities and other sectors, ~~~ on matters of concer to those constituent