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{{short description|Local administrative units in Tamil Nadu}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}

{{morefootnotes|date=July 2020}}

{{Politics of Tamil Nadu}}

'''Local bodies in Tamil Nadu''' constitute the three tier administration set-up in the [[India|South Indian]] state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. It is a system of [[Local government#India|local government]] which forms the last level from the [[Government of India|Centre]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Local Government|url=http://india.gov.in/knowindia/local_govt.php|publisher=National Portal of India|accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref> [[Chennai Corporation]] (now in [[Tamil Nadu]]) in the then [[Madras Presidency]], established in 1688, is the oldest such [[Local body#India|local body]] not only in India but also in any commonwealth nations outside United Kingdom.<ref>[http://www.chennaicorporation.gov.in/about-chennai-corporation/aboutCOC.htm Brief Note on Corporation Of Chennai]</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/02/stories/2003040200100300.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040128034716/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/02/stories/2003040200100300.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=28 January 2004 | title=The first corporation | date=2 April 2003 | work=[[The Hindu]] | accessdate=6 December 2011}}</ref>

== History ==
The history of local bodies in Tamil Nadu dates back to the [[History of Tamil Nadu|Ancient period]] wherein the village administration was taken care by a Village assembly known as ''Sabai'' ({{lang-ta|சபை}}) in every village. Further, each village was divided into several wards known as ''mandalams'' ({{lang-ta|மண்டலம்}}).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tnsec.tn.nic.in/historical/Epigraphical%20Inscription.html | title=Ancient Epigraphical Inscription on elections | publisher=Tamil Nadu State Election Commission | accessdate=13 November 2011}}</ref> This is evident from the epigraph inscriptions found in Vaikuntha Perumal Temple near [[Uthiramerur]]. They used the pot-ticket system of election ([[Gangaikonda Cholapuram#The Chola Administration|Kudavolai Murai]]) ({{lang-ta|குடவோலை முறை}}) to elect representatives to the assembly.

Later came the [[British Raj|British]] rule in India in which the centralisation of governance was enforced. People in the interior of the villages had to walk up to the central authorities for their obligations and grievances. Anyhow this system faded out as the British government realised the pitfalls in this system. Laudable efforts of [[George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon|Ripon]] brought legislation in this aspect which created unions in small towns and villages, to facilitate proper sanitation and lighting. Later, councils were constituted in this regard for which the members are directly elected by elections. Councils were made accountable to an Inspector and Chairman.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tnsec.tn.nic.in/historical/Pre%20Independence.html | title=A Brief History of the Evolution of Panchayats in Tamil Nadu | publisher=Tamil Nadu State Election Commission | accessdate=11 November 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029004115/http://tnsec.tn.nic.in/historical/Pre%20Independence.html | archive-date=29 October 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Though urbanisation was less prevalent those days, [[Chennai]] (erstwhile ''[[Madras]]'') had the honour of having such [[Municipal Corporation]] status even in 1688. Urban local bodies known Municipalities were in existence. The Local and Municipal Department was functioning in the then Secretariat from 1916. It had local, municipal, plague, medical and legislative branches.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/maws/about_us.htm | title=About Us | publisher=Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu | accessdate=13 November 2011}}</ref>

[[Independent India]] heard many voices for the revival and strengthening of the Village panchayats, [[Mahatma Gandhi]] insisted upon this for achieving [[Swaraj]] completely covering all the corners of this country. Later, a committee set up by [[Government of India]], popularly known [[Balwant Rai Mehta Committee]] committee suggested the formation of three-tier [[Panchayati Raj]] system.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tnsec.tn.nic.in/historical/Post%20Independence.html | title=Post Independence Method of Election | publisher=Tamil Nadu State Election Commission | accessdate=13 November 2011}}</ref> From then, there came many legislation to ensure effective system of Local governance in Tamil Nadu. Notable legislative orders to Local Bodies by the centre-state governments include:

# Article 40 of Indian Constitution
# Madras Village Panchayat Act, 1950
# Tamil Nadu District Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 1950
# Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1958
# Tamil Nadu District Development Councils Act, 1958
# Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 (ratification to 73rd and 74th [[Amendment of the Constitution of India]])

==Overview==
Developmental administration is the main objective of these local bodies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tn.gov.in/district_statistics.html |title=Districts Statistics |publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu |accessdate=13 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104195445/http://www.tn.gov.in/district_statistics.html |archivedate=4 November 2011 }}</ref> They are effected by the means of urban and rural local bodies. They are responsible for the implementation of various centrally sponsored, state-funded, and externally aided schemes for provision of basic amenities and other services to the people. Elections are held to elect the representatives for local body council in respective urban and rural areas every five years. The Ministry of Municipal Administration and Rural Development, [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] is the state government governing body for local bodies which is headed by a Minister who is an elected member of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]].

==Administrative units==
Local bodies are categorised into urban local bodies and rural local bodies. This classification is rooted in terms of living standards in the context of urban and rural agglomeration.

===Urban local bodies===
The urban local bodies act as platform between the people in the urban areas and the administration. According to [[2011 census of India]], Tamil Nadu has about 48.45% of total population living in urbanised areas.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://census.tn.nic.in/census2011data/census2011_tn.pdf | title=Presentation on Census | publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu | accessdate=13 November 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027082054/http://www.census.tn.nic.in/census2011data/census2011_tn.pdf | archive-date=27 October 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Depending on the population and income of the urban local bodies, they are further classified into three categories.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tn.gov.in/cma/ | title=Urban Local Bodies | publisher=Commissionerate of Municipal Administration, Govt. of Tamil Nadu |accessdate=13 November 2011}}</ref>

#[[City Municipal Corporations of Tamil Nadu|City municipal corporations]]
#[[Municipalities]]
#[[Nagar panchayat|Town panchayat]]

Larger cities of Tamil Nadu are governed by city municipal corporations ({{lang-ta|மாநகராட்சிகள்}}). Tamil Nadu has 21 municipal corporations: [[Chennai Corporation|Chennai]], [[Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation|Coimbatore]], [[Madurai Municipal Corporation|Madurai]], [[Tiruchirappalli Municipal Corporation|Tiruchirappalli]], [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], [[Tiruppur Municipal Corporation|Tiruppur]], [[Erode Municipal Corporation|Erode]], [[Tirunelveli Municipal Corporation|Tirunelveli]], [[Vellore Municipal Corporation|Vellore]], [[Thoothukudi Municipal Corporation|Thoothukudi]], [[Dindigul Municipal Corporation|Dindigul]], [[Thanjavur Municipal Corporation|Thanjavur]], [[Hosur]], [[Nagercoil Municipal Corporation|Nagercoil]], [[Avadi Municipal Corporation|Avadi]], [[Tambaram Municipal Corporation|Tambaram]], [[Kancheepuram Municipal Corporation|Kanchipuram]], [[Cuddalore Municipal corporation|Cuddalore]], Karur, Kumbakonam and Sivakasi These cities alone house one-third of urban population of the state. Corporation consists of a council of elected [[councillors]] from each ward and a presiding officer, [[Mayor]] who is also an elected representative. Apart from them, an executive authority referred as Corporation Commissioner is also vested with administrative powers.

Municipalities ({{lang-ta|நகராட்சிகள்}}) fall next to the city corporations. There are about 138 Municipalities in Tamil Nadu. Municipalities have four categories based on their annual income and population. These include 8 special-grade municipalities, 28 selection-grade municipalities, 34 grade I municipalities, 68 grade II municipalities.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tnurbantree.tn.gov.in/about-us/ | title=List of Municipalities in Tamil Nadu Gradewise | publisher=Commissionerate of Municipal Administration, Govt. of Tamil Nadu | accessdate=13 November 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928202828/http://www.tn.gov.in/cma/municipalities/municipalities_gradewise.html | archive-date=28 September 2012}}</ref> Their elected representatives include ward councillors and a presiding officer, Municipal Chairperson. Municipal Commissioner is the executive authority.

Town panchayat ({{lang-ta|பேரூராட்சிகள்}}) is the body of government for areas in transition form ‘rural’ to ‘urban’. Tamil Nadu is the first state to introduce such a classification in urban local bodies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tn.gov.in/dtp/introduction.htm |title=About Us |publisher=Directorate of Town Panchayats, Govt. of Tamil Nadu |accessdate=13 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122073525/http://www.tn.gov.in/dtp/introduction.htm |archivedate=22 January 2012 }}</ref> The state has 489 town panchayats.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tn.gov.in/dtp/townpanchayats.pdf | title=List of Town Panchayats | publisher=Directorate of Town Panchayats, Govt. of Tamil Nadu | accessdate=13 November 2011}}</ref> Town panchayats are upgraded to Grade III municipalities if they are found to be eligible. They are categorised in a similar way to that of Municipalities depending on the income criteria and population. Town panchayat council include elected ward councillors and their presiding officer, Town panchayat chairperson. Executive Officer is the executive authority as in the case of town panchayats.

===Rural local bodies===
Rural local bodies include the panchayat raj institutions of this state. There are three levels in this system as follows.

#[[Gram panchayat|Village panchayats]]
#[[Panchayat samiti|Panchayat unions]] ''(coterminous with blocks)''
#[[District Councils of India|District panchayats]] in this state

[[Gram panchayat|Village panchayats]] ({{lang-ta|ஊராட்சிகள்}}) form the grass-root level of democracy as they form the local government for the basic building blocks of India - villages. It is set up in villages where the population is more than 300. There are about 12,524 Village panchayats in this state.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tnrd.gov.in/databases/Villages.pdf | title=List of Village Panchayats in Tamil Nadu | publisher=Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu | accessdate=13 November 2011}}</ref> Gram Sabha is a part of Village panchayat which consists of all residents of village. Village panchayat president himself/herself is an executive authority here. They must meet for minimum of four times a year.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tnrd.gov.in/panchayatraj_inst/grama_sabha.html | title=Grama Sabha | publisher=Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu | accessdate=13 November 2011}}</ref>

[[Panchayat samiti|Panchayat Unions]] ''(coterminous with blocks)'' ({{lang-ta|ஊராட்சி ஒன்றியம்}}) is the group of Village panchayats. They serve as the link between the villages and the district administration. They form the local government at the [[Taluk]] level. Tamil Nadu has 388 panchayat unions.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://164.100.167.12/ruralmaps/blocks.php | title=District Wise Block Maps | publisher=Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu | accessdate=13 November 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122100708/http://164.100.167.12/ruralmaps/blocks.php | archive-date=22 November 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Panchayat Union council consists of elected ward members from the villages. It is headed by a panchayat union chairperson, who is elected indirectly by the ward members of the council.

[[District Councils of India|District panchayats]] in this state ({{lang-ta|மாவட்ட ஊராட்சி ஒன்றியங்கள்}}) form the cream of the panchayat raj system. They take the top slot with mainly advisory powers to the rest. Developmental administration of the district in rural areas are in its hands. It consists of ward members elected from various villages in its jurisdiction. It is presided by a district panchayat chairperson, who is indirectly elected by its ward members. There are 31 district panchayats in this state except for the district of [[Chennai district|Chennai]] as it is an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tnrd.gov.in/databases/Districts.pdf | title=List of District panchayat | publisher=Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu | accessdate=13 November 2011}}</ref> [[District collector]] is the ex-officio chairman of the District rural development agency.

===District details===
[[File:Ripon Building panorama.jpg|thumb|300px|right|<center>[[Chennai Corporation]] housed in Ripon Building</center>]]

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

|-style="background:#ffffdd; color:#000;"
!rowspan="4" align=left width=40px|Sl.No:
|-
|- style="background:#ffffdd; color:#000;"
!rowspan="3" align=left width=50px|District
|-
!align=Centre width=120px colspan="3" | Urban
!align=Centre width=80px colspan="2"| Rural
|-
!scope="col" align=Centre width=40px|Corporations
!scope="col" align=Centre width=40px|Municipalities
!scope="col" align=Centre width=40px|Town panchayats
!Scope="col" align=Centre width=50px |Panchayat unions (blocks)
!Scope="col" align=Centre width=50px |Village panchayats
|-
|- valign=top
| 1
| [[Ariyalur district|Ariyalur]]
| 0
| 2
| 2
| 6
| 201
|- valign=top
| 2
| [[Chengalpattu district|Chengalpattu]]
| 1
| NA
| NA
| NA
| NA
|- valign=top
| 3
| [[Chennai district|Chennai]]
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
|- valign=top
| 4
| [[Coimbatore district|Coimbatore]]
| 1
| 6
| 52
| 13
| 389
|- valign=top
| 5
| [[Cuddalore district|Cuddalore]]
| 1
| 5
| 16
| 13
| 682
|- valign=top
| 6
| [[Dharmapuri district|Dharmapuri]]
| 0
| 1
| 10
| 8
| 251
|- valign=top
| 7
| [[Dindigul district|Dindigul]]
| 1
| 2
| 24
| 14
| 306
|- valign=top
| 8
| [[Erode district|Erode]]
| 1
| 4
| 53
| 14
| 343
|- valign=top
| 9
| [[Kallakurichi district|Kallakurichi]]
| 0
| NA
| NA
| NA
| NA
|- valign=top
| 10
| [[Kanchipuram district|Kancheepuram]]
| 1
| 10
| 24
| 13
| 648
|- valign=top
| 11
| [[Kanniyakumari district|Kanniyakumari]]
| 1
| 4
| 56
| 9
| 99
|- valign=top
| 12
| [[Karur district|Karur]]
| 1
| 4
| 11
| 8
| 157
|- valign=top
| 13
| [[Krishnagiri district|Krishnagiri]]
| 1
| 2
| 7
| 10
| 337
|- valign=top
| 14
| [[Madurai district|Madurai]]
| 1
| 6
| 24
| 12
| 431
|- valign=top
| 15
| [[Mayiladuthurai district|Mayiladuthurai]]
| 0
| 2
| 4
| 5
| 223
|- valign=top
| 16
| [[Nagapattinam district|Nagapattinam]]
| 0
| 2
| 4
| 6
| 211
|- valign=top
| 17
| [[Namakkal district|Namakkal]]
| 0
| 5
| 19
| 15
| 331
|- valign=top
| 18
| [[Nilgiris district|Nilgiris]]
| 0
| 4
| 11
| 4
| 35
|- valign=top
| 19
| [[Perambalur district|Perambalur]]
| 0
| 1
| 4
| 4
| 121
|- valign=top
| 20
| [[Pudukkottai district|Pudukkottai]]
| 0
| 2
| 8
| 13
| 498
|- valign=top
| 21
| [[Ramanathapuram district|Ramanathapuram]]
| 0
| 4
| 7
| 11
| 443
|- valign=top
| 22
| [[Ranipet district|Ranipet]]
| 0
| NA
| NA
| NA
| NA
|- valign=top
| 23
| [[Salem district|Salem]]
| 1
| 4
| 33
| 20
| 385
|- valign=top
| 24
| [[Sivaganga district|Sivagangai]]
| 0
| 3
| 12
| 12
|445
|- valign=top
| 25
| [[Tenkasi district|Tenkasi]]
| 0
| NA
| NA
| NA
| NA
|- valign=top
| 26
| [[Thanjavur district|Thanjavur]]
| 2
| 2
| 22
| 14
| 589
|- valign=top
| 27
| [[Theni district|Theni]]
| 0
| 6
| 22
| 8
| 130
|- valign=top
| 28
| [[Thiruvallur district|Thiruvallur]]
| 1
| 5
| 13
| 14
| 539
|- valign=top
| 29
| [[Thiruvannamalai district|Thiruvannamalai]]
| 0
| 4
| 10
| 18
| 860
|- valign=top
| 30
| [[Thiruvarur district|Thiruvarur]]
| 0
| 4
| 7
| 10
| 430
|- valign=top
| 31
| [[Thoothukudi district|Thoothukudi]]
| 1
| 2
| 19
| 12
| 408
|- valign=top
| 32
| [[Tiruchirappalli district|Tiruchirappalli]]
| 1
| 3
| 17
| 14
| 408
|- valign=top
| 33
| [[Tirunelveli district|Tirunelveli]]
| 1
| 8
| 36
| 19
| 425
|- valign=top
| 34
| [[Tirupattur district|Tirupattur]]
| 0
| NA
| NA
| NA
| NA
|- valign=top
| 35
| [[Tiruppur district|Tiruppur]]
| 1
| 6
| 17
| 13
| 273
|- valign=top
| 36
| [[Vellore district|Vellore]]
| 1
| 8
| 22
| 20
| 753
|- valign=top
| 37
| [[Villupuram district|Villupuram]]
| 0
| 3
| 15
| 22
| 1104
|- valign=top
| 38
| [[Virudhunagar district|Virudhunagar]]
| 1
| 6
| 9
| 11
| 450
|-class="sortbottom"
| '''Total'''
| '''38'''
| '''21
'''
| '''122'''
| '''529'''
| '''385'''
| '''12,524'''
|}

==Elections==
{{Main|Local elections in Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu State Election Commission}}

Elections to the local bodies in Tamil Nadu, held once in five years, are conducted by [[Tamil Nadu State Election Commission]]. Both direct and indirect elections apply for local bodies.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tnsec.tn.nic.in/elections/conduct%20of%20election.html | title=Conduct of Elections | publisher=Tamil Nadu State Election Commission | accessdate=13 November 2011}}</ref> Direct election posts include:

* Urban bodies
# Corporation Mayor
# Municipality/Town Panchayat Chairperson
# Corporation/Municipality/Town Panchayat Councillor
* Rural bodies
# Village Panchayat President
# District Panchayat councillor
# Panchayat Union councillor
# Village Panchayat Ward Member

Indirect election posts include (Mayor,Deputy Mayor of corporations)(Chairpersons and vice chairpersons of

Municipalities and Town panchayats, District panchayats and Panchayat union Various statutory/standing committees are also elected by the way of indirect elections.

==Functions==
Local bodies are completely responsible for the developmental administration in the state. Maintenance of clean environment, primary health facilities gain the foremost importance. Apart from them water supply, roads and buildings, storm-water drains, street lighting, solid waste management, sanitation and bus-stands cum commercial complexes etc are the prime duties of the local bodies.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tn.gov.in/maws/about_us.htm | title=Functions of Panchayats | publisher=Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Dept., Govt. of Tamil Nadu | accessdate=13 November 2011}}</ref> Centrally sponsored schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), etc, and State-funded Schemes like Tamil Nadu Village Habitation Improvement Scheme (THAI), Member of Legislative Assembly Constituency Development Scheme (MLACDS), Self-Sufficiency Scheme, Solar-Powered Green-House Scheme are also undertaken by the local bodies.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tnrd.gov.in/aboutus.html | title=About Us | publisher=Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu | accessdate=13 November 2011}}</ref>
Source of revenue for these local bodies are mainly from centre-state governments. Local bodies also have the power of taxation which include house tax, profession tax, property tax etc. Apart from these they levy fees for specific building plan and layout approvals, water charges, sewerage charges etc.

==See also==
*[[List of Developmental administrative units of Tamil Nadu]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tn.gov.in/ Govt. of Tamil Nadu - official Sste]
*[http://www.tnrd.gov.in/index.html Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu]
*[http://www.tn.gov.in/maws/ Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu]

{{Municipalities of Tamil Nadu}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Local government in Tamil Nadu| ]]
[[Category:Government of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Local government in India|Tamil Nadu]]

Local government in Tamil Nadu - Revision history

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