Autonomy at the Panchayat Level | 23 Jan 2023

More than three decades after the 73^rd and 74^th Amendment Acts, which gave constitutional status to local governments, State governments, through the local bureaucracy, continue to exercise considerable discretionary authority and influence over panchayats.

In India, the powers of local elected officials remain seriously restricted by State governments and local bureaucrats in multiple ways, thereby diluting the spirit of the constitutional amendments seeking to empower local bodies.

Which are the Issues with the Functioning of the Panchayat?

• Lack of Financial Autonomy:
  • Gram panchayats remain fiscally dependent on grants (both discretionary and non-discretionary grants) from the State and the Centre for everyday activities.
  • Broadly, Panchayats have three main sources of Funds:
    • Own sources of revenue: It constitutes a tiny proportion of overall panchayat funds. For Example: Local taxes, revenue from common property resources, etc.
    • Grants in aid from the Centre and State governments: Access to discretionary grants for panchayats remains contingent on political and bureaucratic connections.
    • Discretionary or Scheme-Based Funds:
      • One major issue with these funds in India is that they are often subject to mismanagement and corruption. This can occur when government officials misuse these funds for personal gain or when the funds are not used for the intended purpose.
  • Even when higher levels of government allocate funds to local governments, sarpanchs need help accessing them. The slow transfer of approved funds to panchayat accounts stalls local development.
• Time Consuming Process of Seeking Approvals:
  • Governments also bind local governments through local bureaucracies.
  • Approval for public works projects often requires technical approval (from the engineering department) and administrative approval from local officials of the rural development department, such as the block development officer.
  • Sarpanches spend a substantial amount of time visiting government offices and meeting local bureaucrats, and waiting to be seen or heard.
  • The ability of sarpanchs to exercise administrative control over local employees is also limited.
    • In many States, the recruitment of local functionaries reporting to the panchayat, such as village watchmen or sweepers, is conducted at the district or block level.
• Political Interference:
  • Unlike elected officials at other levels, sarpanchs can be dismissed while in office.
  • Gram Panchayat Acts in many States have empowered district-level bureaucrats, mostly district Collectors, to act against sarpanchs for official misconduct.
    • For instance, the Telangana Gram Panchayat Act allows District Collectors to suspend and dismiss incumbent sarpanches.
  • Across the country, there are regular instances of bureaucrats deciding to dismiss sarpanchs from office which is not merely a legal provision.
    • In Telangana, more than 100 sarpanchs have been dismissed from office in recent years.
• Lack of Trained Personnel:
  • Lack of trained personnel is a significant issue facing panchayats in India.
  • Many panchayat members lack the necessary training and skills to effectively govern their communities.
  • This can lead to poor decision-making, lack of accountability, and inefficiency in the functioning of panchayats.
  • Some reasons for this lack of training include:
    • Limited access to training opportunities for panchayat members, particularly in rural and remote areas.
    • Insufficient budget allocation for training and capacity building of panchayat members.
    • Limited awareness among panchayat members about the importance of training and capacity building for effective governance.
• Inadequate Participation:
  • There is often low participation from citizens in panchayat meetings and decision-making processes.
  • Some possible reasons include lack of awareness about the meetings, lack of trust in the government or local leaders, lack of time or resources for citizens to attend, or lack of interest in the issues being discussed.
  • Additionally, some citizens may not feel that their voices will be heard or that their concerns will be addressed, which can discourage participation.
• Corruption:
  • Corruption is a major issue in many panchayats, with funds and resources being misused or embezzled.
  • Local government officials, such as those in charge of land records and building permits, are often involved in corrupt practices, such as accepting bribes in exchange for services.
  • This can lead to delays and increased costs for citizens, and can also contribute to the illegal acquisition of land and other resources.
  • Additionally, corruption at the local level can impede economic development and the delivery of essential services, such as healthcare and education.
• Gender Bias:
  • Women and marginalized groups are often under-represented in panchayats and face discrimination in their participation and decision-making.
  • One major barrier to women's participation in panchayats is societal attitudes that view women as inferior and less capable than men.
    • This can lead to a lack of support for women who seek to become panchayat leaders and can make it difficult for them to gain the necessary skills and experience.
  • Another barrier is the lack of reserved seats for women in the panchayat.
    • Though India has introduced reservations for women in the Panchayat Raj Institutions, the reservation percentage varies from state to state and not all states have implemented it.

What should be the way Forward?

• Increasing Central and State Government Allocations to Panchayats:
  • This can be done through the transfer of funds directly to the panchayats, rather than routing them through intermediaries.
• Decentralizing Decision-Making:
  • Panchayats should be empowered to make decisions about the allocation and use of funds, rather than having decisions made for them by higher levels of government.
• Building Capacity of Panchayats:
  • This can be done through training and capacity building programs for panchayat members and staff, to enable them to effectively manage financial resources and implement development projects.
• Addressing Gender Biasness:
  • Gender bias at the panchayat level in India can be addressed by providing training and resources for women seeking to become panchayat leaders, and addressing cultural attitudes that perpetuate gender inequality.
• Increasing Transparency and Accountability:
  • Transparency and Accountability issues can be addressed by Conducting regular meetings, Publicising information, Implementing an e-governance system, Whistleblower protection and through social Audit.