Strengthening Democratic Decentralisation and Participatory Democracy in Maharashtra

The Kelkar Committee report (2013) recommended several changes in approach to achieve optimal results for development and amongst all its recommendations, it drives the basic point of recognition of the rights of people who live at the remotest point of existence, that is, the gram sabha of the prim...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Economic and political weekly 2019-09
Main Authors: Deshmukh, Devika, Rajagopal Devara, Parasuraman, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Decentralization
Decision making
Democracy
India
Political aspects
Political science
Politics
Schedules
Social sciences
Society
State government
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Summary:The Kelkar Committee report (2013) recommended several changes in approach to achieve optimal results for development and amongst all its recommendations, it drives the basic point of recognition of the rights of people who live at the remotest point of existence, that is, the gram sabha of the primary habitat (which includes hamlets, pada, wadi, tola, pod, mohalla, tanda, etc)3 (Kelkar 2013). Besides this recognition, the report also recommends the demarcation and allocation of TSP funds to the "neediest and deserving persons." [...]there was very little awareness among villagers not living in the main village. The TDD, together with the RDD, was instrumental in making the gram panchayats and gram sabhas responsible for the planning and implementation of their welfare and development programmes. [...]the decision to release 5% of the TSP funds directly to the tribal panchayats was an experiment in the strengthening of democracy. The Gandhian ideas of gram swaraj (self-rule for villages) and panchayat raj system can become vehicles for ushering in much-needed social and political change by including all stakeholders in the process of decision-making and public policy formulation. [...]concerted, systematic, and sustained endeavours are required to realise the cherished dream of the empowerment of people in a participatory democracy.
ISSN:0012-9976