ON   PANCHAYATHI   RAJ

25-26 February, 2009, Vigyan Bhavan Annex

It has been noted that

1. In spite of all efforts, no commensurate improvement in the living conditions of rural area has taken place.
2. Income disparities have increased
3. Devolution of powers to LSG’s have been either  reversed or obstructed by vested interests
4. And that it is necessary to chart an agenda for empowered and accountable Local Governments

There are inherent Limitations :

•   Under a competitive, market  powered economic system, enrichment of  a few and impoverishment of many is a natural outcome. There can never be equity.

•   Gini coefficient in income, almost like entropy, has been increasing everywhere. This will continue, till there is a total transformation in the socio-economic and political system to one which values equity and sustainability.

•   Quicker  rate of  growth demands larger investments and so, demands that a larger share of social product goes into the hands of rich who can invest. In the hands of the poor this would be consumed. High rate of inclusive growth is a myth.

•  Increasing urbanization leads to increased transfer of soil nutrients through food grains etc. to cities. This robs the soil of its nutrients and burdens the city with obnoxious waste. Soil degradation affects the poor and middle peasants more, sewage affects the urban poor.

•   Urban complexes are inherently incapable of solving  their problems of transport, water, housing etc. There is no city without these problems.

•   Building ‘world-class’ cities and empowerment of villages are mutually antagonistic.

•   However, these conditions will remain as they are for quite  some time to come. There is no sign of any drastic social change in the  horizon. Accepting this, the question is how to make the  ameliorative measures more effective? How to make these measures help social transformation?

What can be done?

•   Vested interests will obstruct and siphon flows from above. They are situated at all levels: GP, BP, ZP, States and Nation.

•   Counter interests, peoples interests reside at tola, mohalla, neighbourhood groups, etc. and can express themselves at the gram sabha.

•   They should have knowledge and organization to take  command in the gram sabha.

•   For this they should be fluently literate in local  language, in arithmetic, in resource potential, in various development schemes etc.

•   Elementary literacy in English and ability to use computers for word processing and internet  searching enhances their self confidence and ability to participate, several times more.