APRIL 24 is ‘Panchayat Raj Diwas’, celebrating the Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) in India. The PRIs are symbols of democratic decentralisation and participation of people in governance. ‘The Hitavada’ spoke on this issue to expert -- Jayant Pathak, Regional Director, All India Institute of Local Self-Government, Nagpur. Here are the excerpts: What is the significance of Panchayat Raj system in India? The main significance of Panchayat Raj System is transformation in the role of Central and State Governments in local administration. Participation of citizens in governance, decentralisation of Government power and responsibilities, local accountability and community empowerment, are main features. Women and backward community are empowered to play a key role in local governance. How has the system evolved over the years? Before Mughal Rule, India had well-established village level Panchayat system. Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of ‘Gram Swaraj’ revolves around local self-government.

 

Lord Ripon’s resolution of 1882 played an important role in establishing local government system. In Independent India, Directive Principles of State Policy asked the State to take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with necessary powers to enable them to function as units of self-government. Balwant Rai Mehata Committee evaluated Community Development Plan in 1957 and suggested first generation of PRIs. It recommended the three-tier structure of Panchayat Raj system. Ashok Mehata Committee (1978) reviewed status of PRIs and modified the three-tier system, by recommending Block Panchayat as the base unit. Late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi brought a bill on the lines of L M Singhvi report in 1989, but it failed to pass in Rajya Sabha. Narasimha Rao Government took up the Constitutional Amendment again, and it was passed in Parliament in 1993.

 

This 73rd amendment provided PRIs with certainty, continuity and strength. It addressed the issue of inadequate representation of SCs, STs, and women. What are the challenges before PRIs? PRIs could not become ‘self-government’ bodies in real sense due to lack of economic independence. They are mostly dependent on Central and State grants for developmental works. Party politics, lack of education and political awareness, influence of MPs and MLAs in governance, insufficient manpower, absence of full-time Village Secretaries or Village Development Officers, ineffective training to local functionaries, ‘Top Down’ approach in planning, lack of well-planned implementation of schemes are major challenges before PRIs. What could be the way forward for strengthening the PRIs? Rapid urbanisation is having its effect on rural areas too. The issues and problems are similar for urban bodies and PRIs. Safe water, sanitation, fire-fighting stations, land use planning, civic amenities are requirements of both. The local administration was not transferred to the Panchayats. PRIs have become dependent on district administrative set-up. Now, a large number of elected representatives are trying to assert their rights, organising themselves to give shape to their vision. Government needs to assess the situation since the 73rd Amendment and make a roadmap. The way forward to strengthening PRIs is to encourage their economic independence. n