Decentralisation and People's Participations

By : Rabi Ray

Page No: 290-297

Abstract
In this article,# the author, exploring ancient Indian texts/sources, traces the existence of village panchayats in ancient India and explains that the panchayats performed administrative and judicial functions in different parts of the country and concludes that the institution survived till the advent of the British rule in India. The author explains how the adoption of zamindari and ryotwari land tenure systems by the British in India destroyed the self-contained and selfsustaining nature of the ‘ancient republics’. The author highlights the efforts towards revival of these institutions in pre-independence times as also in the post-independence era and explains how all such efforts have proved to be short of requirements. Elucidating as to how the centralised model of development has resulted into lopsided and skewed development in India, the author emphasises the necessity of devolution of power to the people at the grassroots level in a diverse and large country like India and explains the importance and necessity of village panchayats in this context. The author also attempts to allay the fears and skepticism regarding the inability and lack of competence of the village panchayats.

Author :
Rabi Ray : The then Speaker, Lok Sabha.