Democratic decentralization & development: a perspective from the state of Karnataka

Abstract

The state of Karnataka concentrated long back towards providing social justice, equality, uniform education to its people even before independence and in late 70s. The state of Karnataka has to make a number of provisions for the development of its people, through the establishment of panchayatraj Institutions. The important acts are the Mysore local bodies Act of 19 02, the Madras District Act of 1920, Bombay Village panchayat Act of 1920. Under these Acts provisions were made for taking up developmental programmes in the local areas. After Independence, the development of panchayat raj institutions in Karnataka has taken place in different phases. The recommendations of Balwantroy Mehta committee and the implementation of its reports provided a new impetus and a new rationale for panchayat raj. Based on the recommendations of the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, the government of Mysore enacted a new legislation in 1959 called as the Mysore Panchayatraj Body Act" the act facilitated for the three tier system of panchayat raj institutions in karnataka. The development, began through the political participation of people from local areas in panchayat raj institutions i.e. in Zilla panchayats, Taluk Panchayats and Village Panchayats. In the state of Karnataka the Two major panchayat raj Acts (1983 & 1993) were designed in accordance of rural development and for the involvement of weaker sections including women in the institutions of panchayat raj. Thus the concept of decentralization is evolved with the perspective of development of the people. Even today there are problems to the people such as Poverty, 111 health, Illiteracy and Backwardness particularly in rural India. As part of India's federal system the Central Government has to look after the National and other important aspects. And the State Governments are not concentrating on local problems. The Decentralised governments have taken up the responsibility of rural development with the people's participation. Therefore, development is a strategy designed to improve the economic and social life of the people. A large number of important functions assigned to panchayats in Karnataka under Karnataka Panchayatraj Act of 1993. Sche3duled 1 assigns 29 subjects to Zilla Panchayats, Sche3duled II assignes 28 subjects to TPs. The functions delegated to PRIs include almost all the functions enumerated under 248 ( G) of the Eleventh Sche3duled of the constitution. The focus of the paper will be on the provision for development in the institutions of panchayatraj in Karnataka. It examines powers and functions of different institutions of panchayatraj for preparing, implementation and execution of developmental programmes and its impact on the development. Finally, the paper intends to analise the development through the democratic decentralization, involvement of weaker sections i.e SCs, STs, OBCs and Women in development process.