Local governments in a state of disrepair
The HinduOne cannot strike a cheerful note when contemplating the state of India’s panchayats and municipalities, 75 years after Independence. In the nearly 30 years since these amendments were incorporated into our Constitution, politicians have mouthed the rhetoric of power to the people, but failed to keep their word on the true ‘devolution’ of powers, responsibilities and accountability to local governments. That is natural; they would lose their pre-eminent positions of power over where, how and when government money is spent, if they actually devolved power to local governments. However, as India closes the infrastructure gap, line departments seem more willing to hand over the day-to-day management of local services to local governments. That phenomenon, hopefully, has assured line departments that local governments have the capability to manage their own essential services, if they could be treated with less condescension and greater respect.
History of this topic
Discover Related
)
