2.6. Decentralisation in India

When power is taken away from Central and State governments and given to local government, it is called decentralisation. The basic idea behind decentralisation is that there are a large number of problems and issues which are best settled at the local level. People have better knowledge of problems in their localities. They also have better ideas on where to spend money and how to manage things more efficiently. Besides, at the local level it is possible for the people to directly participate in decision making. This helps to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. Local government is the best way to realise one important principle of democracy, namely local self-government.

Decentralisation is a process where power and authority are distributed from central authorities to local governments. The main reason for decentralisation is that local governments understand their communities better than a distant central or state government can. For example, villagers are more aware of the issues they face, such as irrigation needs, local schools, and healthcare facilities. By involving local populations in decision-making, decentralisation fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility towards their communities.

Consider a local community garden. The members of the community know the best crops to plant for their climate and needs. If a central body decided everything about the garden without consulting the community members, they might choose plants that require resources not available locally. Just like in a community garden, decentralisation allows locals to make choices that are the most beneficial for their specific needs.

The need for decentralisation was recognised in our Constitution. Since then, there have been several attempts to decentralise power to the level of villages and towns. Panchayats in villages and municipalities in urban areas were set up in all the States. But these were directly under the control of state governments. Elections to these local governments were not held regularly. Local governments did not have any powers or resources of their own. Thus, there was very little decentralisation in effective terms.

Decentralisation is not just a policy, but it was built into the Indian Constitution, designed to empower local governance. Over time, efforts have been made to establish local governments in the form of panchayats for villages and municipalities for cities, but initially, these bodies were largely controlled by state governments. This meant they lacked independence, leading to infrequent elections and insufficient authority to make meaningful changes locally.

Think of a school project where students are given responsibilities to lead various activities. If the teacher controls every detail and doesn't let the students express their ideas or hold regular meetings, then the students won’t feel engaged or responsible. They need autonomy and the authority to make decisions to succeed, similar to how local governments require power and autonomy to function effectively.

A major step towards decentralisation was taken in 1992. The Constitution was amended to make the third-tier of democracy more powerful and effective. Now it is constitutionally mandatory to hold regular elections to local government bodies.

In 1992, a significant amendment was made that aimed to strengthen local self-governance by constitutionally ensuring that elections for local governments must occur regularly. This amendment transformed local governance by providing stability and legitimacy to these bodies and ensuring they had the authority to make decisions crucial to their communities.

Imagine a soccer team where every player gets to vote on the strategy for an upcoming game. If the team did not hold regular team meetings (elections) to discuss strategies, players might feel unengaged. The amendment in 1992 ensured that these local governments (soccer teams) regularly met and decided on their strategies vital for their success.

Rural local government is popularly known by the name panchayati raj. Each village, or a group of villages in some States, has a gram panchayat. This is a council consisting of several ward members, often called panch, and a president or sarpanch. They are directly elected by all the adult population living in that ward or village. It is the decision-making body for the entire village.

The local government structure in rural areas, known as panchayati raj, empowers villagers to elect their representatives, a system designed to ensure that the needs of local populations are directly addressed. The gram panchayat plays a critical role as it allows local citizens to participate in governance, making it easier to address their distinct needs and preferences.

Think of a local committee that decides what activities to organize for the community. The members are elected from different areas, just as members of a gram panchayat are elected from various parts of a village. By having representatives from each area, smaller, more local issues can be recognized and addressed effectively, leading to a happier and more engaged community.

This new system of local government is the largest experiment in democracy conducted anywhere in the world. There are now about 36 lakh elected representatives in the panchayats and municipalities etc., all over the country.

India's local government system represents an extensive democratic experiment, with millions of representatives elected to serve at local levels. This vast network not only ensures representation but also brings the voices of ordinary citizens into the political arena, reinforcing democratic principles.

Consider a national holiday where citizens can vote on activities they want to have in their community. Such participation ensures that everyone's voice is heard, reinforcing the belief that in a democracy, everyone should have a say. Similarly, having a large number of elected officials at the local level brings more voices into governance.

While elections are held regularly and enthusiastically, gram sabhas are not held regularly. Most state governments have not transferred significant powers to the local governments. Nor have they given adequate resources. We are thus still a long way from realising the ideal of self-government.

Despite the constitutional framework for decentralisation and the establishment of local governments, many challenges remain. Regular elections do not guarantee that local governments will have the powers or financial resources to operate effectively. Often, state governments retain significant control, hindering local governance's development and efficacy.

Imagine a school where the student council is elected yearly, but the teachers still control all the budgets and decisions related to activities. Even though the students may have an elected representative, they cannot implement their ideas without the teachers' approval. This situation mirrors local governments' struggles when state governments do not fully empower them.

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