Roadmap for Answer Writing

1. Introduction

• Context: Mention the 73rd Constitutional Amendment (1992), which aimed at empowering Panchayats through decentralization, granting them constitutional status, and giving them authority to manage local governance.
• Problem Statement: Despite the competitive political environment created by the amendment, Panchayats have faced challenges in becoming effective bodies for planning and service delivery.
• Objective: Set the tone by stating that the answer will analyze why Panchayats have struggled and suggest ways forward.

2. The Competitive Political Environment Post-73rd Amendment

• Increased Political Participation: The amendment led to more grassroots participation, with reserved seats for women and marginalized groups. This has fostered political competition at the local level.
  • Fact: 21 states in India have reserved 50% of Panchayat seats for women.
• Empowerment of Marginalized Communities: The system aimed to ensure better representation of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Panchayats.
• Formation of Multiple Political Parties: A vibrant political environment has emerged with local parties contesting Panchayat elections, thereby increasing democratic involvement.

3. Challenges Faced by Panchayats

• Inadequate Capacity Building:
  • Fact: Many Panchayat members lack proper training in managing finances, implementing development projects, and ensuring effective service delivery.
  • Example: Panchayat members in rural areas often lack the expertise required for effective governance, resulting in inefficient use of resources.
• Financial Constraints:
  • Fact: Panchayats depend primarily on central and state government funds, often received late and in insufficient amounts.
  • Example: Panchayats receive only 5% of their revenue from local sources, relying 95% on devolved funds.
• Lack of Transparency and Accountability:
  • Fact: Many Panchayats lack effective monitoring mechanisms to ensure transparency in fund allocation and resource usage.
  • Example: There are issues in rural India where Panchayats have not been held accountable for mismanagement of resources or corruption.
• Socio-economic Inequalities:
  • Fact: Discrimination against marginalized groups often prevents equitable development.
  • Example: Scheduled Castes and Tribes, despite reservations, face barriers to accessing benefits or services from Panchayats.
• Limited Community Participation:
  • Fact: Many citizens are unaware of their rights or do not actively engage with Panchayats.
  • Example: Low attendance in Gram Sabhas hampers the democratic functioning of Panchayats.

4. Suggested Measures to Strengthen Panchayats

• Fiscal Autonomy:
  • Fact: Allow Panchayats to raise and manage their own funds for local projects, reducing their dependency on external grants.
  • Example: Kerala’s decentralized planning model has empowered Panchayats, improving local governance and service delivery.
• Regular Elections:
  • Ensuring the timely conduct of Panchayat elections to maintain democratic processes and accountability.
• Citizen Participation:
  • Fact: Increasing civic education and awareness about rights and responsibilities in Panchayats.
  • Example: Promoting greater involvement in Gram Sabhas can help improve participation and accountability.
• Social Audit Mechanisms:
  • Fact: Regular social audits can ensure greater transparency in financial and service delivery.
  • Example: Rajasthan’s use of social audits has led to identification and rectification of irregularities.
• Inter-panchayat Cooperation:
  • Encourage collaboration between Panchayats to share resources and best practices.
• Decentralization and Additional Responsibilities:
  • Fact: Grant Panchayats more responsibilities in key sectors like health, education, and agriculture.
  • Example: Devolution of powers has improved governance in states like Kerala.

Conclusion

• Summary: Despite the 73rd Amendment’s promise, Panchayats have faced challenges in fulfilling their potential. By addressing issues like financial dependency, lack of capacity, and improving transparency, Panchayats can better serve their communities.
• Way Forward: Implementing reforms like fiscal autonomy, increased citizen participation, and regular social audits could lead to better governance and service delivery at the grassroots level.

Key Facts to Include:

1. Constitutional Provision: 73rd Constitutional Amendment (1992) gave Panchayats constitutional status under Article 243.
2. Financial Dependency: Panchayats receive 95% of funds from the Centre/State, and only 5% from local revenues.
3. Women’s Representation: 21 states reserve 50% of Panchayat seats for women, reflecting the increased political participation.
4. Social Audits: In Rajasthan, social audits have been successful in identifying and addressing irregularities in Panchayat governance.
5. Kerala’s Model: Kerala’s decentralized planning model has been a success story in empowering Panchayats.