Undermining Local Democracy

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This book examines the institution of local self-government and governance in rural India. Focusing on Karnataka, the book juxtaposes local self- govern- ment with parallel bodies of governance that have emerged over the last two decades, arguing that a decline in the effectiveness of the former has occurred. This is complicated further by the presence of parastatal organiza- tions that have spread in these areas as well. Over the last two decades, numerous Societies have been set up under the aegis of centrally-sponsored schemes, which in turn have set up Commu- nity-based Organizations (CBOs) at the local level. These Societies bypass the Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs), performing functions that rightly be- long to the latter. The author contends that if democratically-elected repre- sentatives are present at all levels — from Parliament to local government institutions — it is they who should be involved in decision-making on be- half of the people, regarding the developmental agenda of the country, rather than it becoming the mainstay of parallel bodies. The study, though region-specific, has implications for the model of devel- opment sought to be introduced in the entire country following the liberali- zation reforms in the 1990s. It demonstrates that governance through insti- tutions that eschew political decentralization will result in increasing ine- quality and skewed development. Local representative institutions need, instead, to be restored and strengthened to achieve the inclusiveness that the national government seeks as part of its agenda.

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Lalita Chandrashekhar is an independent researcher based in Bangalore, IndiaTable of Contents1. Introduction 2. Local Government in India 3. Panchayat Raj in Karnataka 4. Parallel Bodies 5. Parastatal Bodies in Karnataka 6. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan 7. Watershed Development 8. Societies Galore! 9. Conclusion