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Decentralisation of power has been the sine qua non of true democracy. The Kerala Legislative Assembly has had tremendous number of gains in this field, as proved by the numerous legislations relating to the constitution and development of local bodies. The Kerala District Administration Act, 1980 aiming at democratic decentralisation of power by the establishment of district councils is undoubtedly the most revolutionary enactment in this field. The Kerala Panchayats Act, 1960 and The Kerala Municipalities Act 1960, The Kerala Municipal Corporations Act,1961 were amended by the Kerala District Administration Act, 1971.
The Kerala Panchayat Raj Act,1994 and The Kerala Municipalities Act of the same year also deserve special mention.
By the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act,1994 provisions were made for the constitution of Gramasabha in a village or group of villages. It contains provisions for the constitution of Panchayats at Village, Block and District levels thereby introducing a three tier system of Panchayats for the first time. Panchayats were given powers and responsibilities with respect to the plans for economic development and social justice and for the implementation of development schemes and to set up a Finance Commission to review the financial position of the Panchayats. The Act also provided for the appointment of a State Election Commission for the superintendence, direction and conduct of elections to different levels of panchayats. The Kerala District Administration Act, 1980 was repeated by the enactment of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994. The Kerala Municipalities Act, 1994 provides for the constitution of Town Panchayats, Municipalities and Municipal Corporation. This Act also gave vast powers to the Municipalities with regard to preparation of plans for the overall economic and social development of these areas.
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Local Self Government