History of Local Self-

Government in Bengal
Implementation of Information or
Knowledge…
 Will you take just a moment and write
down a sort answer to the following
questions?
Q 1: What one thing could you do
(Something you aren't doing now) that, if
you did it on a regular basis, would make a
tremendous positive difference in your
personal life?
Q2. What one thing in your student life
would bring similar results?
 Local government in Ancient Bengal

There were three types of local government in

ancient societies.
First, local government was the only form of
government where no central authority existed.
Second, in instances where the central government
was powerful, local government played a
secondary role.
Lastly, in some cases, local government completed
with the centre for power and authority.
Headman: The headman was generally the
head of the most powerful family of the
dominating caste.
Panchayets: Senior persons of the village and
responsible for contacts with higher
authorities.
Caste Panchayet:
Village Panchayets: Essentially, their
responsibility was public order and
settlement of disputes, both criminal and
civil.
 Local government in Medieval
Bengal
Sultanate Period

Unit Ruler

Iklim Uzir

Arsha Shir-e-Lashkar

Shaha -

Kasba -
Mughal/ Nawabi Period

Suba Subedar/Nazim

Sarkar/Chakla Faujdar

Pargana Shikder

Thana Thanadar
 Local Government in Bengal During the British Period

The British rulers in India did not adopt the

indigenous institution of local government.
The institutions nurtured by them were
modeled on their own.
The transition between the breakdown of
Mughal rule and takeover by the British
East India company thus witnessed a rapid
disintegration of social institution in the
country.
 The introduction of a
new Zamidari system in
1773 further destroyed
whatever traditional
local self-governing
institutions rural Bengal
had at that time.
 Village Chaukidari Act of 1870
The economic and law and order situation
started deteriorating at an alarming rate,
particularly following the Revolt of 1857.
Soon the British realized the necessity of
local institutions in the administration of
country.
Accordingly, government passed the Village
Chaukidari Act of 1870
Lord Meyo
 The Act tried to revive the traditional
Panchayet system.
 It authorized the District magistrate to
appoint a Panchayet consisting of 5
members at the village levels.
 Functions
 Panchayet was to appoint village
watchmen called ‘Chawkidars’ for the
maintenance of law and order.
 Collecting taxes from the villagers to pay
the salaries of the Chaukidars.
 Restraint of The Act
 Local Self Government institutions were
dominated by the British and thus, most of
the Indian population remained deprived of
participation in their functioning.
 A person nominated could not refuse to be
a member. In case he did so,……?
 a fine of Taka 50 could be imposed on him.
The sole purpose behind the creation of this
body was to maintain law and order and
serve British interest and had little to do
with real welfare.
 Local Board
Not less than Six members
Two-third were to be elected and one third to
be nominated by the government.
LB could either elect their own Chairman
from among member subject to the approval
of the Lieutenant Governor.
 LB had no specific function except to
receive reports from the Union Committee
 No independent authority and income
source
 It was an agent of DB
Thanks