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Q1. 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.

1. 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.

1. A day specified by the BDO or the collector.

2. Day of the village haat.

3. Sunday.

4. Naag panchami/ sankranti.

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

1. Venue suggested by the circular of the district collector.

2. Religious place in the village.

3. Dalit Mohalla.

4. Upper caste Tola.

5. Village school.

3. 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?

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

goal.

Ans: 1. (iii) Sunday. It would allow all the adults of the village to attend the meeting.

2. (v) Village school would be the suitable place for the meeting because the meeting is regarding education

irrespective of the caste, gender and religion of the children.

3. It is not an instance of people's participation as women teachers did not attend the meeting, girl's education was not

discussed and children who had never been to school were not considered. The condition of the building and timing

of the school were also ignored. Thus, most issues that were vital to the participation of people were ignored as

issues related to all groups were not considered.

4. Agenda of the Gram Sabha:

Age of children: All children of the village from the age of 5 years should be enrolled in the school.

School Building: The school building should be renovated with proper seats and blackboards in all classrooms.

Water and sanitation facility: The Gram Pradhan is made responsible for the water supply and better and

separate sanitation facility for boys and girls.

Syllabus: Sports and extra co-curricular activities will be included to lessen the pressure of the study and cultivate

physical development.

Mid-day meal: School principal would be responsible for the quality and quantity of the food provided to the

students.

Free education: Every child till 14 years of age is eligible for free education.

Appointment of the staff: Helping staff can be recruited from the village and secretary would be responsible for

the appointment of the teachers.

Residential facility: Gram Pradhan has to approach the Block Development Officer for appealing to provide

residential facility to the teachers.

Hostel facility: Gram Pradhan has to approach the BDO to ask for hostel facility near the village school to

accommodate students from distant villages.

Compensation: Villagers whose land will be taken will be provided with appropriate compensation from the

government.

Q2. 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?

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

2. The development plans made by the local people will have greater acceptability than those made by the

government officers.

3. People know their area, needs problems and priorities. By collective participation they should discuss and take

decisions about their life.

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

Ans: 1 Rank: c. People know their area, needs, problems and priorities. By collective participation they should discuss

and take decisions about their lives. Local government by definition is meant for the local people of a particular

area. It is based upon the assumption that the problems of an area are best understood and resolved by the local

people. These decisions would be more rational and close to their problems. Thus, it is the most important aspect

of local government.

2 Rank: b. The development plans made by the local people will have greater acceptability than those made by

the government officers. This is because the decisions of local people are based upon an accurate knowledge of

local requirements. This makes it the second most important aspect of local government.

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

legislature. This is because common people may not have the time or resources to approach authorities at state or

even district level about issues that have been pending for a long time. This makes it the third most important

rationale behind local government.

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

Community involvement lessens the cost of projects. However, it is a less important aspect compared to the

relevance of the development activities for local people. Thus, it is ranked fourth.

The decision of the gram panchayat of Vengaivasal village was based upon the knowledge of people about their local

area, needs, problems and priorities. Collective participation enabled the people to discuss and take decisions about

issues that affected their life. The decision of the government was taken without the consent of the Panchayat. Thus, it

was violation of the right of the people to decide upon issues that affected them.

Q3. 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.

Ans: This conversation is based on the issue of empowerment of women on equal basis:

1. I agree with alok’s view that the constitution of India guarantees the equality of men and women. Reservations in

local bodies for women ensure their equal share in power.

Women have gained more power and confidence by asserting control over resources. Their presence in these

institutions has given many women a greater understanding of the working of politics. In many cases, they have

brought a new perspective and a greater sensitivity to discussions at local bodies.

2. I do not agree with neha’s view that the budget of local bodies should have separate provision for women. Local

institutions are created for the overall development of the area. Developmental needs of women and men are same

Article 39 (1) and (d) ensure an adequate livelihood and equal pay for equal work for both men and women

respectively.

3. Jayesh view that I don’t like this reservations business is a wrong view. In our parliament and state assembly and

council, there is no provision for the reservation of women. That is why women do not have adequate representation

in these bodies. If reservation was not provided in local government institutions, women might have inadequate

representation in these bodies too. A large number of women elected representatives have come to occupy these

positions. There are at least 200 women Adhyakshas in Zilla Panchayats, another 2000 women who are Presidents of

the block or taluka panchayats and more than 80,000 women Sarpanchas in Gram Panchayats. We also have more

than 30 women Mayors in Corporations, over 500 women Adhyakshas of Town Municipalities and nearly 650 Nagar

Panchayats headed by women.

Q4. What were the main differences between the local governments before 73 amendment and after that amendment?

Ans: The main differences between the local governments before 73 amendment and after the amendment can be listed

as:

After the implementation of 73 amendment, the local government has been divided into a uniform three-tier

Panchayati Raj structure.

Earlier the state administration was responsible for conducting elections to the Panchayati Raj institutions but

now the state government has to appoint a state election commission for this purpose.

After dissolution of the Panchayati Raj before its term of five years a fresh election has to be conducted within six

months. This was not the case before the 73 amendment was passed.

Distribution of revenue between the state government and local government and between rural and urban

government is done by the state election commission. This was not the case before the 73 amendment was

implemented.

Reservation for women, scheduled caste and scheduled tribes and to other backward classes (if the state

government thinks it is necessary for OBCs) is implemented for various positions in the local government

according to the proportion of their population.

Twenty-nine subjects that were earlier in the State list of subjects in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution

have been transferred to the Panchayati Raj institutions.

Q5. What are the provisions for the reservations for the socially disadvantaged groups as per the 73 amendment? Explain

how these provisions have changed the profile of the leadership at the village level.

Ans: The socially disadvantaged groups like women, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes have been given reservation for

various posts in the local government of rural India according to the proportion of their population. One-third of all

positions in panchayats are reserved for women while Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have seats reserved as

per the proportion to their population. States can also provide reservation to Other Backward Classes if they think it is

necessary.

This has changed the profile of the leadership at the village level by transferring the leadership fromthe earlier

dominant social groups to groups that were previously unable to have a say in the decision-making process. There is

now a greater representation of all social groups in the panchayat institutions. Thus, more women and people

belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes are now able to play important role in decisions that can bring benefits for

their community.

Q6. Constitution of India visualised village panchayats as units of selfgovernment. Think over the situation described in the

following statements and explain how do these situations strengthen or weaken the panchayats in becoming units of selfgovernment.

1. 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. 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.

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

3. 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.

4. The government divided a village Dungarpur into two and made a part of village Jamuna and Sohana. Now village

Dungarpur has ceased to exist in government’s books.

5. 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.

Ans: 1. It strengthens the village panchayat as the gram sabha can take decision independently for the welfare of the village

people.

2. It strengthens the village panchayat as it makes more resources available at their disposal. It allows them to spend

according to their local needs.

3. It weakens the village panchayat as it does not have enough funds to maintain and carry out welfare projects in the

village. It has to depend on the government officials for funds.

4. It strengthens the panchayat as it creates new unit of self government and allows more power in the hands of

people.

5. It strengthens the self governance of the village as it shows the ability of the village panchayat to mobilise the village

to utilise their own resources without any help from the state government.

Q7. 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.

Ans: 1. Development works at village level, i.e. irrigation facilities, drinking water, construction of roads, etc.

2. Agriculture developments to be supervised and implemented by the panchayats only related to agriculture practices

in a modern method.

3. Social welfare related activities to keep the records of birth and death in the village, family welfare and family

planning.

4. Gram panchayats should be given the powers to ensure better health and life of citizens to provide basic civil

amenities.

Q8. Which of the following according to you involve decentralisation? Why are other options not sufficient for

decentralisation?

1. To hold election of the Gram Panchayat.

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

3. Power to call meeting of Gram Sabha.

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4. A Gram Panchayat receiving the report from the Block Development Officer about the progress of a project started

by the State government.

Ans: 1. It may be the main point of involvement of decentralization.

2. The representatives are elected by the villagers only from among themselves.

3. It may also be subsidiary.

4. It is the manifestation of the working of decentralization.

Q9. Read the provisions of the 73 Amendment. Which of the following concerns does this amendment address?

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

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

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

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

Ans: 4. To be effective the village panchayats need resources and powers to make plans for the village development.

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