Previous Year Question

The institutions of local self-government in India received their most significant impetus during the Viceroyalty of Lord Ripon.

The process of developing local administration under British rule had begun before Lord Ripon. Lord Mayo took steps towards financial decentralisation in 1870 and attempted to assign certain administrative and financial responsibilities to local bodies.

However, the major step towards giving local self-government a systematic and more representative character was associated with Lord Ripon's Resolution on Local Self-Government of 1882. His Resolution of 18 May 1882 is regarded as an important landmark in the development of local self-government in India.

Ripon's scheme emphasised greater participation of elected non-official members in local bodies, a larger role for Indians in managing local affairs, and, wherever possible, non-official chairmen. Its purpose was not merely administrative convenience but also to provide people with practical experience in local administration.

Under this policy, efforts were made to develop district and local boards along with municipalities. Steps were also taken towards providing local bodies with financial resources and greater responsibility for local functions.

Because of this contribution, Lord Ripon is commonly described as the “Father of Local Self-Government” in India. Government sources also identify his Resolution of 1882 as a decisive development in the evolution of local self-government.

Therefore, the expression “got a fillip” in the question is most appropriately associated with the period of Lord Ripon, although some preliminary measures concerning local administration had been taken before him.