Indian Administration System is a hierarchical system from centre to state and from state to district and panchayat levels. In the urban area the prime responsibility of providing better amenities lie in the hand of these local bodies as Municipal Corporation of a city, where as in rural areas the Panchayats are accountable for providing these services to its citizens.
Municipal Corporation of Chennai: Established on September 29th, 1688, the Corporation of Chennai also known as Corporation of Madras in the erstwhile Madras, is one of the oldest Municipal Corporation of India.
In 1607, a charter was declared by the East India Company in which it was mentioned that all the territories located at the distance not exceeding more than ten miles from the then fort will fall under the control of the corporation constituted by the name of “Town of Fort St. George”.
In 1792 the Parliamentary Act authorized the corporation to introduce Municipal taxes in the city. However, the Municipal Administration started working properly from 1792, with an objective of providing better government and administration to the citizens. To achieve this objective the Madras Municipal Act 1919 has been continuously amended from time to time. At present also this act is followed by the Municipal Corporation of Chennai.
With the passing time and increasing population the boundary of city also broadened. The territorial divisions which were only 30 at that time have now increased into 155 Municipal wards. The commissioner of the Corporation is the Chief Executive Officer and is supported by three Joint Commissioner, one Deputy Commissioners from Indian Administrative Service, Two Chief Engineers and Seven Superintending Engineers.
To know more about administrative set up and wards of the Chennai Corporation,
explore here .
Panchayat Administration: Identifying the necessity of better local administration in rural areas, the state of Tamil Nadu was the first state to classify the status of local bodies as “Town Panchayats.” These Town Panchayats act as a mediator between the rural and urban local administration.
The Panchayats were given the administrative powers and they adopt well developed accounting and auditing procedure and work as transparent institutions by providing better services to the public.
For further information about village panchayats in Chennai,
click here.