Name : Debokarsho Dutta Roll No : 02 Problems and Prospects of Panchayati Raj System in India

Name : Debokarsho Dutta Roll No : 02
Problems and Prospects of Panchayati Raj System in India
The story of the Panchayati Raj system in India starts with the vision of one man who arguably played the most influential role in securing India's independence. This man is knows as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, lovingly known as Gandhiji. He envisioned an India where every village would have its own republic or panchayat to conduct its self-administration and governance. He firmly believed that the efficiency and capability of the indian village was paramount in regards to the general socio-economic development of the nation. Although this vision was an ingenious one, it has to be said that the realization of Ganghiji's dream regarding a well established and highly functioning Panchayati Raj still lacks as of today.
Before categorically analyzing the points regarding the aforementioned topic it is advisable to give a brief account of what the Panchayati Raj system actually is and how it functions. The Panchayati Raj was first introduced in the year 1959 is the states of Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh with much fanfare and soon after other states followed suit. Three broad images or perspectives has come to characterize or associate the Panchayati Raj system in India. We shall look at these differing perspectives briefly. Firstly, it is viewed as an instrument for the realization of the goal of community development. It is also sometimes viewed as on organ of the state to execute development agendas and other such schemes as the latter may entrust to it. This view is synonymous with its agency role. The next approach is that of the local government approach according to which it is treated as an embodiment of democracy at the village level. Finally, the Panchayati Raj is viewed as a cardinal part of sarvodaya and is expected to act as a bulwark of a new social order to replace the present exploitative system.
Although initially, the multiplicity of perspectives and images did not pose much of a problem to the working of the Panchayati Raj bodies, its defects soon became prominent and that the differing perceptions were gradually colliding with each other, thus thwarting the system from working in a uniform, cohesive and self-determining manner. This led to the fall in popularity of the panchayati system even in places like Maharashtra and Gujarat where it had been relatively more successful.
Initially, the Panchayati Raj system was advocated because of a number of reasons. Most of these have to do with the problems of centralization of governance that were becoming clearly visible at the time. Problems of inefficiency, corruption, lack of accountability, mounting disillusionment of the citizens and villagers towards government officials etc. Decentralization was regarded as powerful tool to instill the confidence and trust of the people back into the government. Simplistically speaking, the new system was aimed to be a transfer of power and initiative for social and economic development of the villages. The then government constituted a committee headed by Balwant Rai Mehta to review the Community Development Programme and suggest changes. Thus the Panchayati Raj came into being. In the following part of the paper we shall discuss some points of benefits of the Panchayati Raj system. They can be summarized as follows :
Pachayats are best suited to carry out upliftment programmes such as mending roads, terraces, buildings, embanking fields, constructing and maintaining sewage systems in urban areas and providing fresh drinking water etc. People in the villages should actively participate in the development activities regarding agriculture, irrigation, animal husbandry, public health, education, etc. In a nutshell, the whole idea of this scheme is based on the dictum that 'rural development is for the rural people, of the rural people, and by the rural people themselves'.
 They are best constituted to organize voluntary labour for social uplift and economic amelioration. The employment providing opportunities of this system can be regarded as one of its best merits. The main objective behind the Panchayati Raj is that the people in the village should undertake the responsibilities of governing themselves. Pioneer rural sociologist A.R. Desai spelled the objectives of PR system as follows: 'Panchayati Raj is claimed as a real democratic political apparatus which would bring the masses into active political control from below, from the vast majority of the weaker, poor sections of rural India.'
Panchayats are the best agencies which can supply the political talent. They are the potential schools of political training for the rural masses. This is also massively important in serving as a link between regional or local politics and that of the centre and states. Working of the Panchayats will create institutional mechanisms establishing linkages among various levels of political action and functioning.
They can also serve as the schools of social service, health care, popular education and social progress.
Panchayats can impart cheap litigation, speedy and substantial justice to the villagers. This will go a long way in getting parts of urban India to get familiar with judicial proceedings and will also encourage the growth of education and create employment.
Panchayats are best fitted to be the representatives and spokespersons of the villagers. The formation and working of Panchayats will create a source of brotherhood among villages and thus they will be able to address their grievances and problems in a much better co-ordinated fashion to the higher authorities of the State and Centre.
In spite of the visible prospects of the PR system, it is indeed quite unfortunate as to see its fate in current times. The apathetic attitudes of the bureaucracy and the elected representatives have crushed the spirit of the PR system. The official hierarchy failed to inspire confidence among the village people. Bureaucrats were unwilling to transfer power to elected representatives, funds were not released in time and gradually the project stagnated and was virtually non-existent apart from as instrument of augmenting agriculture.
In the next section, some of the problems of the system and reasons for its dismal failure have been examined in brief :
1. Unscientific distribution of functions:
The Panchayati Raj scheme is defective in so far as the distribution of functions between the structures at different levels has not been made along scientific lines. The blending of development and local self- government functions has significantly curtailed the autonomy of the local self government institutions.
Again it has virtually converted them into governmental agencies. Even the functions assigned to the Panchayat and the Panchayat Samiti overlap, leading to confusion, duplication of efforts and shifting of responsibility.
2. Incompatible relation between the three-tiers:
The three-tiers do not operate as functional authorities. The tendency on the part of the higher structure to treat the lower structure as its subordinate is markedly visible. M. P. Sharma rightly observes the hierarchical domination and predominance, "fitters down step by step from Zilla Parishad to Panchayat Samiti and from them to the Village Panchayats" Needless to state that this kind of mutual relationship is not in commensurate with the genuine spirit of democratic decentralization.
3. Inadequate finance:
The inadequacy of funds has also stood in the way of successful working of the Panchayati Raj. The Panchayati Raj bodies have limited powers in respect of imposing cesses and taxes. They have very little funds doled out to them by the State Government. Further, they are generally reluctant to raise necessary funds due to the fear of losing popularity with the masses.
 
4. Lack of cordial relation between officials and people:
Introduction of the Panchayati Raj aimed at securing effective participation of the people. But in reality this hardly happens since the key administrative and technical positions are manned by the government officials.
Generally there is lack of proper cooperation and coordination between the people and the officials like Block Development Officers, the District Officers etc. Again the officers fail to discharge the development duties more efficiently and sincerely.
5. Lack of conceptual clarity: There is lack of clarity in regard to the concept of Panchayati Raj itself and the objectives for which it stands. Some would treat it just as an administrative agency while some others look upon it as an extension of democracy at the grass roots level, and a few others consider it a charter of rural local government. What is all the more intriguing is the fact that all these conceptual images could co-exist simultaneously tending to militate against each other every now and then.
6. Undemocratic composition of various Panchayati Raj institutions:
Various Panchayati Raj Institutions are constituted setting aside democratic norms and principles. The indirect election of most of the members to Panchayat Samiti only increases the possibility of corruption and bribery. Even the Zilla Parishad consists of mainly ex-officio members. They are, for the most part, government officials. This negates sound democratic principles.
7. Disillusionment on structural-functional front:
The performance of Panchayati Raj Institutions has been vitiated by political cum caste factionalism, rendering developmental projects into chimeras. Corruption, inefficiency, scant regard for procedures, political interference in day to day administration, parochial loyalties, motivated actions, power concentration instead of true service mentality- all these have stood in the way of the success of Panchayati Raj. Furthermore, the power to supercede the local bodies on the part of the State Government clearly violates the spirit of democratic decentralization.
8. Administrative Problem:
The Panchayati Raj bodies experience several administrative problems. They are the tendency towards politicization of the local administration, lack of co-ordination between the popular and bureaucratic elements, lack of proper incentives and promotion opportunities for administrative personnel and apathetic attitude of the government servants towards development programmes etc.
9. Politics is an inevitable part of a democratic frame -work:
The manipulative nature of rural politics is manifest in the techniques used at the time of elections. The fact-finding research teams observe that the caste system in rural India has made a mockery of the concept of rural development. Even the Panchayat elections are fought on caste grounds and the traditional dominant castes have manoeuvred in such a way that they still occupy the position of power. It so happens that often these people in power are inefficient administrators and are ill-equipped to run the panchayats.
Various recommendations have been made by various bodies in course of time regarding the functioning of the PR system. Some of these have been useful but the general apathy of the Indian political structure towards these bodies have ensured its perpetual stagnation. Needless to say, it holds immense potential and if made to function properly, we can be optimistic that one day Gandhiji's dream will be realized and the urban sector will lead the way in development, administration and efficiency.