This Volume Captures The Panchayati Raj Experience In The States Of Bihar And Maharashtra, And In The Union Territories Of Lakshadweep And Pandicherry. Taking Stock Of Devolution Of Powers, Functions And Finances On Panchayati Raj Institutions, The Contributors Analyse The Various Issues Pertaining To Rural Development, Decentralisation, Local E-Governance And Participatory Governance At Grassroots Level.

Contributed articles.

Contributed articles.

Contributed articles.

When members of groups that have long been marginalized finally gain access to political offices, it is expected that the social meaning of belonging to such a group will change and that these psychological changes will have far-reaching behavioral consequences. Supporters of political quotas granting such access often argue that they improve the nature of intergroup relations. However, these presumed psychological effects have remained surprisingly uncharted and untested. Do policies mandating the inclusion of excluded groups in political offices change the intergroup relations? If so, in what ways? By drawing on careful multi-method explorations of a single case - local-level electoral quotas for members of formerly 'untouchable' castes in India - this book provides nuanced, thorough and ultimately optimistic responses to these questions.

Contributed articles.

This book examines the causes and consequences of marginalization of social groups and the state of democratic decentralization in India in the unfolding context of globalization and changing perspectives of development models and institutions. The first of its kind, it correlates macro-and micro-level issues to understand social exclusion and inclusion and the level of participation of democratic institutions at the grassroots level since economic liberalization (1991) and the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act of 1992, marking three decades since granting constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions. The study looks at the linkages between certain key themes: the neoliberal model of development, growth, and distributive justice; the role and mandate of grassroots-level public institutions enshrined in the Constitution, inclusive growth, and the Indian State; the role of political executives from marginalized communities; factors involved in people’s active participation in the development process; and challenges in current political structures, inclusion of marginalized communities in governance and development, and real empowerment of local bodies and institutions. The book argues that legislative enactments, constitutional status, reservation of seats to marginalized communities, and so on can only empower local bodies and their leadership symbolically. The success of these provisions depends on the overall development model of the country; the support of national and state governments; the socio-economic and political environment of the institutions; and effective service and accountability. Topical and rich in empirical data, including case studies, this book will be an essential read for scholars and researchers of political science, development studies, governance, public administration, sociology, public policy, and also for government agencies, administrators and bureaucrats, policymakers, international organizations, think tanks, and NGOs working in the area.

This book explores experiences, issues and challenges which have emerged since Constitutional status was granted to the local bodies at grassroots level in India in the early 1990s. Among other issues, it focuses on: the contrasting political ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and B. R. Ambedkar on Panchayati Raj Institutions the legal and constitutional provisions which were introduced through the 73rd and 74th Amendment Acts the devolution process, status and challenges of democracy for local governmental bodies empowerment of the women and lower castes through reservations in the local bodies governance in Schedule V and VI tribal areas Based on extensive fieldwork across India, this volume will be useful to scholars and researchers of political science, sociology, public administration as well as policymakers and civil society activists.

Inclusive Development and Good governance have already occupied the centre-stage of Policy discourses today. The present book studies the functioning of the Panchayati Raj System in the context of good governance and inclusive development. The empirical research that the book undertakes neither romanticises nor rejects the PRIs. It analyses the power equations, struggles and various forms of marginalisation and deprivation in the rural areas . The economically exploited and the socially deprived have a stake in the democratic space created by the PRIs. The silent revolution brought about by the PRIs challenges the unequal power structure and relations in many ways. The project of Inclusive Development and of Good Governance is simply not possible without meaningful and effective participation of the marginalised in the democratic process through the PRIs. The Ruling class and their allies in rural areas are active in preventing the marginalised from occupying the democratic spaces in real terms. The study of this dynamics of rural areas is crucial to developing policies in favour of the marginalised. The Neo-liberal paradigm of development, with its centralising character, defeats inclusive development through democratic decentralisation.What this book sets out to advocate is deepening of democracy in rural areas.