EXERCISES

1. The Constitution of India visualised village panchayats as units of self-government. Think over the situation described in the following statements and explain how these situations strengthen or weaken the panchayats into becoming units of self-government.

a. The Government of a State has allowed a big company to establish a huge steel plant. Many villages would be adversely affected by the steel plant. The Gram Sabha of one of the affected villages passed a resolution that before establishing any big industries in the region, village people must be consulted and their grievances should be redressed.

Answer: This situation strengthens the panchayat.

Explanation: By passing a resolution and demanding consultation, the Gram Sabha is asserting its right to be involved in decisions that directly affect the lives and livelihoods of its residents. This demonstrates the panchayat acting as a true unit of self-government, holding higher authorities accountable and advocating for local interests, which is a sign of vibrant, grassroots democracy.

b. The government has decided that 20 % of all its expenditure would be done through the panchayats.

Answer: This situation strengthens the panchayat.

Explanation: Devolving a significant portion of the budget to panchayats enhances their financial autonomy. Having control over funds allows them to plan and implement development projects based on local needs and priorities, rather than just executing schemes dictated by the state government. This financial empowerment is crucial for them to function as effective units of self-government.

c. A village panchayat kept on demanding funds for a building for village school, the government officials turned down their proposal saying that funds are allocated for certain other schemes and cannot be spent otherwise.

Answer: This situation weakens the panchayat.

Explanation: This shows a lack of real financial autonomy. If a panchayat cannot allocate funds according to the needs it identifies (like a school building), and is instead bound by rigid, top-down schemes decided by government officials, its role as a self-governing unit is undermined. It reduces the panchayat to a mere implementing agency with no real decision-making power.

d. The government divided the village Dungarpur into two and made a part of the villages Jamuna and Sohana. Now the village Dungarpur has ceased to exist in the government’s books.

Answer: This situation weakens the panchayat.

Explanation: The ability of a state government to unilaterally alter the very existence of a village without consulting the panchayat or its residents is a direct blow to the idea of self-government. If a local government’s territorial integrity is not secure, its authority and ability to function are fundamentally compromised.

e. A village panchayat observed that water sources of their region are depleting fast. They decided to mobilise village youth to do some voluntary work and revive the old village ponds and wells.

Answer: This situation strengthens the panchayat.

Explanation: This is a perfect example of a panchayat functioning as a proactive unit of self-government. By identifying a local problem (depleting water sources) and mobilizing community resources to find a solution, the panchayat is demonstrating leadership, self-reliance, and participatory governance, which are the core principles of decentralization.

2. Suppose you are entrusted to evolve a local government plan of a State, what powers would you endow to the village panchayats to function as units of self-government? Mention any five powers and the justification in two lines for each of them for giving those powers.

Answer: If entrusted with creating a local government plan, I would endow village panchayats with the following five powers to make them true units of self-government:

1. Power to levy and collect local taxes:

Justification: This ensures financial autonomy and reduces dependence on state government grants. It empowers panchayats to fund projects based on their own priorities and be directly accountable to the local taxpayers.

• Power to prepare and implement village development plans:

Justification: Local people best understand their needs. This power ensures that development is bottom-up and relevant, rather than being based on generic, top-down schemes that may not be suitable.

• Power to manage local natural resources (water, forests, land):

Justification: This is crucial for sustainable development and livelihood security in rural areas. Local communities have a direct stake in preserving their resources, making them the most effective managers.

• Power over local administration and functionaries:

Justification: To ensure accountability, the panchayat must have administrative control over officials like the village school teacher, health worker, and linemen. This makes the local administration responsive to the needs of the villagers.

• Power to adjudicate minor civil and criminal disputes at the local level:

Justification: This provides speedy, accessible, and inexpensive justice for villagers. It also helps in reducing the burden on the formal judicial system and resolves disputes in a manner consistent with local customs.

3. What are the provisions for the reservations for the socially disadvantaged groups as per the 73rd amendment? Explain how these provisions have changed the profile of the leadership at the village level.

Answer: The 73rd Amendment makes the following provisions for reservations for socially disadvantaged groups:

Reservation for SC/ST: Seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in all three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions in proportion to their population in that area.

Reservation for Women: Not less than one-third of the total number of seats are reserved for women. This includes seats reserved for SC/ST women.

Reservation for Chairpersons: The offices of the chairpersons (like Sarpanch) at all three levels are also reserved for SCs, STs, and women in a manner prescribed by the state legislature.

Change in Leadership Profile:These provisions have radically transformed the profile of village leadership. Before the amendment, leadership was almost exclusively dominated by men from the upper castes and dominant landowning communities. The reservation policy has ensured the inclusion of individuals from marginalized sections—SCs, STs, and women—who were historically excluded from positions of power. This has made local governments more representative and democratic. It has empowered voices that were previously unheard and brought new perspectives and priorities, such as those related to gender justice, social welfare, and basic amenities like drinking water and sanitation, to the forefront of village governance.

4. What were the main differences between the local governments before the 73rd amendment and after that amendment?

Answer:
The main differences between local governments before and after the 73rd Amendment are:

5. Read the following conversation. Write in two hundred words your opinion about the issues raised in this conversation.

Alok: Our Constitution guarantees equality between men and women. Reservations in local bodies for women ensure their equal share in power.

Neha: But it is not enough that women should be in positions of power. It is necessary that the budget of local bodies should have separate provision for women.

Jayesh: I don’t like this reservations business. A local body must take care of all people in the village and that would automatically take care of women and their interests.

Answer: This conversation captures the complex debate around women’s political empowerment. All three speakers raise valid points that reflect different perspectives on reservation.

Alok’s position is correct that reservations are a crucial first step. They ensure women’s presence in decision-making bodies, which is essential for political equality and breaking down historical barriers. Without this mandatory inclusion, women would likely remain excluded from power structures.

Neha’s argument builds on Alok’s by highlighting that mere presence is not enough; it must translate into tangible outcomes. A separate provision for women in the budget, often called gender-budgeting, ensures that financial resources are specifically allocated to address women’s needs, such as healthcare, safety, and economic opportunities. This makes their political power meaningful and effective.

Jayesh’s view, while seemingly idealistic, is flawed because it ignores deep-seated patriarchal biases. The notion that a general body will “automatically” take care of women’s interests has been proven false by history. Without specific representation and targeted policies, women’s issues are often overlooked or dismissed.

In my opinion, a comprehensive approach is needed. Alok’s structural solution (reservation) is the foundation. Neha’s policy solution (gender budgeting) is necessary to make that structure effective. Jayesh’s ideal of universal care can only be achieved when the historical disadvantages faced by women are first corrected through these specific measures.

6. Read the provisions of the 73rd Amendment. Which of the following concerns does this amendment address?

a. Fear of replacement makes representatives accountable to the people.

b. The dominant castes and feudal landlords dominate the local bodies.

c. Rural illiteracy is very high. Illiterate people cannot take decisions about the development of the village.

d. To be effective the village panchayats need resources and powers to make plans for the village development.

Answer: The 73rd Amendment addresses concerns (a), (b), and (d).

(a) It addresses this by mandating regular elections every five years. The certainty of facing the electorate makes representatives accountable for their performance.

(b) It addresses this through the mandatory reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women, which breaks the monopoly of dominant castes and men.

(c) The amendment does not address the issue of illiteracy by setting educational qualifications for representatives. In fact, by not doing so, it ensures that democracy remains inclusive and does not exclude people based on their educational status.

(d) It addresses this by providing for a State Finance Commission to ensure the transfer of financial resources and by listing 29 subjects in the Eleventh Schedule to be devolved to the panchayats.

7. The following are different justifications given in favour of local government. Give them ranking and explain why you attach greater significance to a particular rationale than the others. According to you, on which of these rationales the decision of the Gram panchayat of Vengaivasal village was based? How?

a. Government can complete the projects with lesser cost with the involvement of the local community.

b. The development plans made by the local people will have greater acceptability than those made by the government officers.

c. People know their area, needs problems and priorities. By collective participation they should discuss and take decisions about their life.

d. It is difficult for the common people to contact their representatives of the State or the national legislature.

 Answer:
 Ranking and Justification:

(a) The government can complete the projects with lesser cost… While efficiency and cost-effectiveness are important benefits, they are secondary outcomes of the primary principle of democratic participation and local knowledge.

(b) The development plans made by the local people will have greater acceptability… This follows directly from (c). When people are involved in planning, they feel a sense of ownership, which ensures better implementation and sustainability.

(c) People know their area, needs, problems and priorities… This is the most significant rationale. It is the philosophical core of self-government and decentralization. Real democracy means empowering people to make decisions about their own lives, and this principle is the foundation for all other benefits.

 (d) It is difficult for the common people to contact their representatives… This highlights the importance of accessibility in governance. Local government brings democracy to the people’s doorstep, making it more responsive.

Rationale for Vengaivasal Village:The decision of the Gram Panchayat of Vengaivasal village was primarily based on rationale (c). The Panchayat and its President refused to endorse the Collector’s order because they believed that the decision about how to use the village’s land—a vital local resource—should be made by the local people themselves. They asserted their right to self-governance and to decide their own priorities, which is the essence of the principle that “People know their area, needs, problems and priorities.” They fought to protect their constitutional power to make decisions about their own locality.

8. Which of the following according to you involve decentralisation? Why are other options not sufficient for decentralisation?

 a. To hold election of the Gram Panchayat.

b. Decision by the villagers themselves about what policies and programmes are useful for the village.

c. Power to call meeting of Gram Sabha.

d. A Gram Panchayat receiving the report from the Block Development Officer about the progress of a project started by the State government.

Answer: The option that truly involves decentralization is (b) Decision by the villagers themselves about what policies and programmes are useful for the village.

Explanation: Decentralization is not just about creating local bodies; it is about transferring real decision-making power to them.

(b) represents genuine decentralization because it involves the transfer of substantive power to decide on local matters. This is the core of self-governance.

Options (a) and (c) are necessary procedures for decentralization, but they are not sufficient on their own. Holding elections and calling meetings are processes; they are meaningless if the elected body has no real power to make decisions.

Option (d) is actually an example of centralized functioning. The panchayat is merely a passive recipient of information about a state-run project. It is not making decisions but is being informed about decisions made by a higher authority.

9. A student of Delhi University, Raghavendra Parpanna, wanted to study the role of decentralisation in decision making about primary education. He asked some questions to the villagers. These questions are given below. If you were among those villagers, what answer would you give to each of these questions?

 A meeting of the Gram Sabha is to be called to discuss what steps should be taken to ensure that every child of the village goes to the school.

 a. How would you decide the suitable day for the meeting? Think who would be able to attend / not attend the meeting because of your choice.

(i) A day specified by the BDO or the collector

(ii) Day of the village haat

(iii) Sunday

 (iv) Naag panchami / sankranti

Answer: The most suitable days would be (ii) Day of the village haat or (iii) Sunday. A day specified by an officer (i) is a top-down approach. A festival day (iv) might not be suitable as people would be busy with rituals. The village haat day is good because most people are in a central location, but they might be busy with commerce. Sunday is often the best choice as it is a holiday for most agricultural labourers and other workers, allowing for maximum participation, especially from the working poor.

 b. What is a suitable venue for the meeting? Why?

(i) Venue suggested by the circular of the district collector.

(ii) Religious place in the village.

(iii) Dalit Mohalla.

(iv) Upper caste Tola.

(v) Village school.

Answer: The most suitable venue is (v) Village school. A religious place (ii) might exclude people of other faiths. Venues in a Dalit Mohalla (iii) or an upper-caste Tola (iv) might deter people from the other community from attending due to social hierarchies. A government-suggested venue (i) may not be convenient. The village school is a neutral, secular, and public space that is accessible to everyone and is thematically appropriate for a meeting about education.

c. In the Gram Sabha meeting firstly a circular sent by the district collector was read. It suggested what steps should be taken to organise an education rally and what should be its route. The meeting did not discuss about the children who never come to school or about girls’ education, or the condition of the school building and the timing of the school. No women teacher attended the meeting as it was held on Sunday. What do you think about these proceedings as an instance of people’s participation?

Answer: This is a poor instance of people’s participation. It is a classic example of formalism over substance. The meeting was dominated by a top-down agenda (the collector’s circular) and failed to address the real, grassroots issues like student dropouts, girls’ education, and school infrastructure. The absence of women teachers shows a lack of inclusive planning. True participation would have involved the villagers setting their own agenda and discussing their own problems and solutions, not just listening to a government circular.

d. Imagine your class as the Gram Sabha. Discuss the agenda of the meeting and suggest some steps to realise the goal.

Answer: Agenda for the Gram Sabha (Our Class):

1.     Welcome and statement of the goal: Ensuring 100% school enrollment and attendance.

2.     Open discussion to identify reasons for non-attendance (Why are children not coming to school?).

3.     Focus group discussion on specific issues: challenges for girls’ education, problems of children from poor families, quality of teaching, and school infrastructure.

4.     Brainstorming solutions and forming committees.

5.     Passing resolutions based on the suggestions.

Suggested Steps to Realise the Goal:

1.     Awareness Committee: Form a committee of students and teachers to visit every household to counsel parents on the importance of education.

2.     Support for Girls: Start a “buddy system” where older girls walk with younger girls to school to ensure their safety. Demand the construction of a separate, functional toilet for girls.

Flexible Timings: Propose flexible school timings for children who have to help their families.