Strong and autonomous
local government is one of the most vital prerequisites of democratic
governance. ‘‘Local government is one of the keys to sound administration’.[1]
Modern democracies’ administration is almost unthinkable without devolution of
power to the local governments. Due to increase of population as well as to
huge expansion of governmental activities certain matter of policy and
administration concerning national and international interests as are reserved
for central administration and the rest wide range of governmental functions
are vested in local authorities.
Local
government facilitates the mass people at the grass-root level to participate
in national planning, program and administration. Through the local government
system, they can share their opinion and views on national affairs. ‘Local
authorities exist to provide public services. They don’t operate to make
profit.’[2]The
system of local government helps in different ways to bring transparency and
efficiency within the state administration. First, it helps to solve local
problems locally and relieves the central government much of its responsibility
to deal with trifle and local matters. Second, it relieves MPs much of their
burden of local responsibilities, which people usually expects from MPs. If
local government is institutionalized, they will help develop leadership from
the grassroots level giving gradually a strong base in democracy.