HOUSING OF THE INDUSTRIAL WORKER. 285:

colonies somewhere in the vicinity of established towns, so that
Shere may be opportunity of contact with others living in a different
 environment and in different spheres of life. When a community,
employed almost wholly in one industry, such as those at Khargpur
and at Jamshedpur, is segregated far from other communities and cut
off from outside interests, an introspective attitude gradually forces
itself upon the residents and a warped outlook on life tends to develop.
As a result, these isolated communities only too often become active
foci of discontent and disruption, even where general conditions of life
are of a higher standard than those to which the members of the community
 have been accustomed. This psychological factor should be
taken into consideration in planning for future developments of this
kind.

Local Self-Government.

The creation and development of industrial enterprises has in
some cases necessitated the leasing of extensive areas by employers and the
provision of services, such as water, sanitation, housing, roads, lighting,
etc., which under normal conditions are usually provided by local authorities.
 In some of these industrial areas there is a large resident population,
at Jamshedpur for example itis well over 100,000. So farno attempt has
been made to institute a system of local self-government such as obtains in
other parts of India. In the notified area a committee has been constituted
of representatives of the two large industrial companies owning the works
situated in the area, but the resident population is not required to pay taxes
in respect of the services provided. At the Khargpur Railway Colony on
the Bengal Nagpur Railway and at Golden Rock on the South Indian
Railway, the administrations have provided for the establishment of
colony committees acting in an advisory capacity. These committees
are composed of persons of whom some are nominated by the adminisbration
 and others elected by the resident population. At Khargpur
the colony committee levies a conservancy cess upon the residents.
The principle of local self-government has been accepted in India, and we
believe that in these special areas developments in this direction are
required as a means of developing a sense of responsibility amongst the
Inhabitants. We recognise that, where the employer bears the full cost
of providing services essential to the well-being of any community, the
facts of the case demand that an effective limit to the powers of any
8uthority administering such area should be provided. We recommend
that Government should give continued consideration to the problems
treated in these special areas with a view to devising a system whereby
the principles of Jocal self-government may be applied.
Responsibility of Municipal Councils.
One fact which stands out from the outline we have given is that
bhe action taken by the parties concerned—employers, Government
and local bodies—is in inverse ratio to their responsibility. Employers
have done most; municipal councils least. The latter are primarily
responsible for the health of their citizens, and that responsibility cannot