The word chavni is used for the place where soldiers live. As the time passed civilians also started living in Chavni. Indian government passed a Cantonment Board Act in 1924 to solve the local problems of this region and establish a local institution. The objective of this Act was to establish Cantonment Board. Nagar Palika Cantonment Boards are directly administrated by the Defence Department of Indian Government.
At present at Narirabad in Rajasthan (Ajmer district) the Cantonment board is established. At present, all Chavni Mandais are administered under the new law implemented in September 2006. The commanding officer of army is the chairman of the Cantonment Board. The tenure of elected members of the Cantonment Board is of 5 years and for nominated members till they are on the seat.
