Question

Even after providing constitutional status to Panchayati raj institutions for more than two decades, why it has not been able to achieve the desired objectives? What steps should be taken by the centre and state government to improve the functioning of local Governance System?

Answer 1

Approach:

• You can start with the objective of 73rd constitutional amendment act
• Discuss the achievements and Failures of panchayati raj institutions
• Suggest some measures to make PRI effective

Panchayati Raj:
The Panchayati Raj is the system of rural local self government. It has been established in all the states of India by the Acts of the state legislatures to build democracy at the grass root level. These institutions are given constitutional status through the 73rd constitutional amendment act in 1992. The main objective of the panchayati raj is to make India really democratic through transition from representative democracy to participatory democracy. It also aimed at women empowerment through one third reservation for women in all levels of the panchayati raj.

Achievement of the Panchayati raj:
The introduction of panchayati raj has created a three tiered form of government in India. The effectiveness of the panchayati raj varies from one state to another. Some of the major achievements of the panchayati raj system are

• Participatory form of government.
• Women empowerment through reservation.
• Bottom-up planning approach.
• Implementation of the rural employment schemes.
• Social auditing of infrastructure projects.

In some states like Kerala, the local government plays an effective role in the rural development which reflects in the human development index of the state.

Failure in achieving the objective:
The performance of the Panchayati Raj Institutions has not been satisfactory and not upto the expected level. Some of the major reasons for the failure in achieving its objectives are

• Lack of adequate devolution of functions, funds and functionaries.
• Excessive control by bureaucracy.
• Tied nature of funds to specific schemes.
• Overwhelming dependency on government funding.
• Reluctance of PRI to use fiscal powers.
• Restriction on functions of Gram Sabha by state laws.
• Creation of parallel administrative bodies.
• Poor Infrastructure.
• Lack of education and unawareness of powers and responsibility by the elected representatives.
• Irregularity in conduction of election.

Measures to make the PRI effective:
The local government comes under the state list and it is the duty of the state government to organise an effective form of local governance. In case of the central government the following measures like taking conduction of local bodies elections mandatory and timely release of funds to the local bodies. The respective state government should make the following measures:

• Providing financial autonomy and power levy taxes.
• Creating a separate cadre of officials for local bodies.
• Regular conduction of elections.
• Compilation of the plan of the local bodies to create state development plans.
• Strengthening the infrastructure facilities of the local administrative institutions.
• Creating proper awareness about the rights of the people in PRI.

Conclusion:
Democracy, which is a government of the people, by the people, for the people, must ultimately win for it is not only an intrinsic value but is instrumental in ushering in an inclusive and just society. Thus implementation of the provisions on the papers should be taken up with full spirit for making India into truly democratic.This cannot happen without developing democratic local governance with a sense of urgency.