Local Democracy in India: Interpreting Decentralization - Softcover

Kumar, Girish

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0761935339 ISBN 13: 9780761935339

Publisher: SAGE Publications Pvt. Ltd, 2006

Synopsis

The fundamental objective of this large-scale study is to reconstruct the contemporary historical value of panchayats (a traditional rural Indian political system) in the decentralization of the country. Using interviews and discussions with all the central players in the field, the author presents a comparative and detailed account of panchayat-centric democratic decentralization in the states of West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.

The author covers the key issues of whether:

- the policy of reservations has created spaces for the weaker sections, including women;

- panchayats empower people and strengthen democracy at the local level;

- the people are satisfied with the performance of panchayats.

Additionally, the book assesses the impact of decentralization on the functional efficacy of social sector institutions such as primary schools and health centers.

About this title

Review

By taking the reader through the political history of the Panchayat system in India it shows the practicalities and challenges of making decentralisation work...A useful guide to the many advocates of local democracies in national planning commissions, NGOs and international development organisations.

(Journal of South Asian Development)

The book will benefit the policy-makers and other sections concerned who would like to honestly try to find answers to many vexed questions of reasons for the failures and setbacks on mainstreaming the local democracy as envisioned in the 73rd Amendments of the Constitution of India (Yojana)

Edition details

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Pvt. Ltd
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0761935339
• ISBN 13: 9780761935339
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 328