Decentralization & Local Governance

Decentralization &
Local Governance:
Indian Experience
The Fact…
• Albania 3,130,000
• Swaziland 1,032,000
• Denmark 104,000
& Out of 230 countries in the world, 97 countries (42%) are

Having Population of less than 3.2 Million
But in India,
We Have nearly above than 3.2 Million
People Representatives!
Local Governance is our
Tradition…
“Three Thousand Years Ago in
India.…
The sculpture from Sanchi depicts
a village scene.
Notice the meeting of the elders
known as Panchayat -
around which the local
administration system was built!”
Panchayat: Sanskrit term

Pancha: Five, Aayat: Place with Divinity
General Administration & Security, Justice, Finance, Public works, Temple
The need…
Community
Government
Systems
Simplifying the governance.
People should own their own development Process

The problem…
• Once Rajeev Gandhi (Our former Prime Minister) Said in
the Parliament…
If you send an elephant from the
Central to a village, only
its tail will reach to the village…
(It Means,
to provide 1 Rs. of Service to the rural area,
Government is spending 7 Rs )
- As on 1983
Five level of Indian Governance
Union Government Policy making
State Government Policy making
District Administration Policy implementation
Block Administration Policy implementation
Village Administration Policy implementation

Its Constitutional Status (1993 AD)
73rd Amendment of Indian Constitution refers Panchayat Institutions
Effective 3 Tire System
Reservation for Women SC / ST Reservation
29 Performing areas PRI Regular /

mandated Election
State Finance Commission State Election

Gram Sabha Commission
Various forms of LSG
Rural – 3 levels Urban – 3 types

• District Panchayat • Corporations
– DP Wards – Corp.Wards
• Block Panchayat • Municipalities

– BP Wards – Mun. Wards
• Village Panchayat • Town Panchayats

– VP Wards – TP Wards
• Tribal Panchayat Governance
– Controlled by PESA 1996 Act (Central Act)
– Enable Gram Sabhas to self govern their natural resources

and cultural practices
– 10 state have fifth schedule areas. Namely, AP, Telangana,

Chatisgarh, Gujarat, Himanchal Pradesh, Jharkhand,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisa and Rajasthan.
• LG of North East States – Autonomous District Councils
– Areas covered under Sixth Schedule of Indian Constitution.
– Have Legislative, Administrative and Judicial powers.
– No law of the Centre or the State in respect of the legislative powers
conferred on the Autonomous District Councils could be extended to
those areas without their prior approval.
– The district councils are also empowered to constitute Village councils
and also Village courts.
• Out of 8 NE States, it covers 5 States (Assam, Mizoram, Manipur,

Tripura and Meghalaya)
• The District Councils comprise of 30 members for a term of five years.

The Governor nominates not more than four members; others are
elected on the basis of adult suffrage.
Statistical Over view
Gram Panchayat District

S.No Aspect Total %
Panchayat Union Panchayat
1 No of Units 234676 6079 537 241292

No of elected representatives
2 Total 2065882 109324 11708 2186914 ..
3 Gen 1479369 77166 8067 1564602 ..
4 SC 346002 22333 2201 370536 16.94
5 ST 233765 8210 1322 243297 11.13
6 Women 838227 47455 4923 890605 40.72
…The data states about only rural local bodies,

another 12 lakh leaders are in Urban, PESA and NE - ADCs
Major roles / responsibilities
of PRI
Entitlements Welfare
to people functions
Development
functions
Performance
• Ensured Constitutional Status
• Three tire System, regular elections with reservation (33%
Women & 24% SC / ST)
• Mandated Gram Saba meeting – at least 4 times / year
• State Finance Commission fund
• 29 Areas of activities to perform

PRI: Platform for Democratic
innovations
• Kerala : Village level 5 year - People Planning
• MP : Call Back provision for elected leaders
• Rajasthan: Minimum educational qualification
• Hariyana : No. of children & contesting in PRI election
• Gujarath : Voting in PRI made compulsory
• Karanatka: Delegation of all 29 areas to PRI
• Bihar : first state with 50% reservation to Women

Achievements
• Better reach of development work
• Appropriate model for India (Such a Big country)
• Widening the leadership base
• Women leadership and their proven performance
• Three times common election
• It is towards Direct Democracy
• Handing more than Rs.30,000 Crores / year

The Common Aspects of better systems
• Uni – Caste System will exist
• Presence of Christian Community
• Initiative Leadership
• Presence of Women Leaders
• Non political based leaders
• Geographical region: Coastal & Tribal
• Presence of Techno – Managerial Support by external Agency

But the issue is…
Every one needs & demands Decentralization,
Only at their level!
So,
State Governments are not interested to share their powers with Local
Governments!
Some field level Issues…
• Poor participation in Gram Sabha
• Lack of democratic practices
• Lack of people’s Involvement
• Poor status of weaker section
• Shortage of Funds
Dynamics of Decentralization
Passive Change, may lead to mis - management
Political Will Participation
Active Change, Vibrant & real,

Better Development
…The present system is More of Political will to Participation

Thank you

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Decentralization &

& Out of 230 countries in the world, 97 countries (42%) are

Panchayat: Sanskrit term

Simplifying the governance.

People should own their own development Process

If you send an elephant from the

Central to a village, only

its tail will reach to the village…

State Government Policy making

District Administration Policy implementation

Block Administration Policy implementation

Village Administration Policy implementation

Effective 3 Tire System

Reservation for Women SC / ST Reservation

29 Performing areas PRI Regular /

State Finance Commission State Election

Rural – 3 levels Urban – 3 types

• Block Panchayat • Municipalities

• Village Panchayat • Town Panchayats

– Controlled by PESA 1996 Act (Central Act)

– Enable Gram Sabhas to self govern their natural resources

– 10 state have fifth schedule areas. Namely, AP, Telangana,

• Out of 8 NE States, it covers 5 States (Assam, Mizoram, Manipur,

• The District Councils comprise of 30 members for a term of five years.

Gram Panchayat District

1 No of Units 234676 6079 537 241292

…The data states about only rural local bodies,

• Ensured Constitutional Status

• Three tire System, regular elections with reservation (33%

Women & 24% SC / ST)

• Mandated Gram Saba meeting – at least 4 times / year

• State Finance Commission fund

• 29 Areas of activities to perform

• MP : Call Back provision for elected leaders

• Rajasthan: Minimum educational qualification

• Hariyana : No. of children & contesting in PRI election

• Gujarath : Voting in PRI made compulsory

• Karanatka: Delegation of all 29 areas to PRI

• Bihar : first state with 50% reservation to Women

• Better reach of development work

• Appropriate model for India (Such a Big country)

• Widening the leadership base

• Women leadership and their proven performance

• Three times common election

• It is towards Direct Democracy

• Handing more than Rs.30,000 Crores / year

• Uni – Caste System will exist

• Presence of Christian Community

• Presence of Women Leaders

• Non political based leaders

• Geographical region: Coastal & Tribal

• Presence of Techno – Managerial Support by external Agency

Only at their level!

• Lack of democratic practices

• Lack of people’s Involvement

• Poor status of weaker section

Passive Change, may lead to mis - management

Political Will Participation

Active Change, Vibrant & real,