Concept of Democratic Decentralization Panchayat Raj System and Historical Perspective of Local Government,

Balwantrai Mehta Committee Report and 73rd Amendment of Constitution

The concept of Democratic Decentralization

• Decentralization is the process of redistributing or dispersing functions, powers, people or things away from a central location or authority.• Democratic decentralization can be defined as

meaningful authority devolved to local units of governance that are accessible and accountable to the local citizenry, who enjoy full political rights and liberty. It thus differs from the vast majority of earlier efforts at decentralization in developing areas• Participation and control of governance by the people of

the country is the essence of democracy.

Panchayat Raj System

Introduction

• The Panchayati Raj in India generally refers to the system introduced by constitutional amendment in 1992, although it is based upon the traditional panchayat system of South Asia. • The Panchayati Raj system was formalized in 1992, following a study conducted by a number of Indian committees of various ways of implementing more decentralized administration.

Panchayati Raj as the foundation of India's political system•Mahatma Gandhi advocated panchayati raj as the foundation of India's political system, as a decentralized form of government in which each village would be responsible for its own affairs. • The term for such a vision was Gram Swaraj ("village self-governance"). Instead of it India developed a highly centralized form of government.

Function and Levels of Panchayat Raj• In India, the Panchayati Raj now functions as

a system of governance in which gram panchayats are the basic units of local administration. • The system has three levels: •Gram panchayat (village level)•Mandal Parishad or block samiti or panchayat samiti (block level) and •Zila Parishad (district level).

• It was formalized in 1992 by the 73rd amendment to the Indian Constitution.

Historical Perspective of Local Government

The history of modern local self-government in India may be divided into five distinct periods.

• The first ends with the issue of the well-known resolution of Lord Ripon in 1882. • The second ends with the initiation of Dyarchy in the provinces in

1919.• The third ends with the commencement of provincial Autonomy

in 1937. • The fourth period ends with the framing of the Constitution of

India in 1947. • The final period was set in motion in 1952 after the Indian

constitution came into force in 1950. During this period momentous alterations highlighting rural development have taken place

Balwantrai Mehta Committee Report

• The principle thrust of Balwanta Rai Mehata Committee report was towards decentralization on democratic institutions is an effort to shift decision centers close to the people to enable their active and continuous participation under local popular control.• The Ashok Mehata committee’s principal thesis was the functional necessity for decentralization of administration level closer to the people• Both Balwanth Rai Mehata Committee report and Ashok Mehata Committee reports can be considered as landmarks in the history of democratic decentralization in India.

The introduction of the 73rd and the 74th Constitutional Amendments, the

decentralization has been democratized

73rd Amendment of Constitution

The 73rd Amendment covers many areas that would enable the Panchayats to improve the lives and wellbeing of poor and vulnerable groups. Moreover, it contains specific provisions that guarantee the participation of traditionally excluded groups, and transparency for local institutions such as the Gram Panchayats and the Gram Sabha.

Salient Features of the 73rd and 74th Constitution Amendment Acts (1992)

1. Panchayats and Municipalities will be “institutions of self-government”.

2. Basic Units of Democratic System - Gram Sabhas (villages) and Ward Committees (Municipalities) comprising all the adult members registered as voters.

3. Three-tier system of panchayats at village, intermediate block/taluk/mandal and district levels. Smaller states with population below 2 million only two tiers.

4. Seats at all levels filled by direct election5. Seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and chairpersons of the

Panchayats at all levels also shall be reserved for SCs and STs in proportion to their population.

Cont.….1. One-third of the total number of seats reserved for women. One-third

of the seats reserved for SCs and STs also reserved for women. One-third offices of chairpersons at all levels reserved for women.

2. Uniform five year term and elections to constitute new bodies to be completed before the expiry of the term. In the event of dissolution, elections compulsorily within six months.

3. Independent Election Commission in each state for superintendence, direction and control of the electoral rolls.

4. Panchayats to prepare plans for economic development and social justice in respect of 29 subjects listed in 11th Schedule. 74th Amendment provides for a District Planning Committee to consolidate the plans prepared by panchayats and Municipalities.

5. Funds: Budgetary allocation from state governments, revenue of certain taxes, collect and retain the revenue it raises, Central Government programmes and Grants.

6. In each State a Finance Commission to determine the principles on the basis of which adequate financial resources would be ensured for panchayats and municipalities.

References