The operational success of the decentralisation process is dependent to a large extent on the efficient functioning of the Gram Panchayat, which is regarded as the basic unit of the Panchayati Raj system. The tiers at the intermediate and district levels, in majority of the states, are still to acquire relevant roles. Often, they are just reduced to fund-forwarding agencies for governmental programmes being implemented by the Gram Panchayat, instead of being allowed the autonomy to take on roles of policy-making and implementation.

The 73rd Amendment aroused a great deal of expectation that the Panchayats would be entrusted with substantial functions at the ground level. However, the functions and responsibilities of the Panchayats, a self-governing body that will be administered by persons of not adequate education, need to be more clearly defined. State Governments continue to perceive Panchayats as institutions created to erode their authority. In facts, very few states have devolved specific functions to Panchayats in spite of the fact that they amended their Acts in conformity with the provision of the 73rd Amendment.

Active women Sarpanches have given importance to social development activities like health, sanitation, old age pensions and welfare but a perusal of the agenda of Panchayat meetings across the country demonstrates a pattern of work priority being accorded to infrastructure issues such as the construction of roads and community buildings. Social sector development issues such as health and education take a back seat. Even discussion of the infrastructure issue is found to be limited to new constructions. Repair and maintenance of existing structures is often overlooked. An unfortunate observation that has emerged is, that most women elected heads are Sarpanches but still they are dependants on others like, secretary, husband, children etc. due to lack of education. High monetary extortions from corrupt government officials, and threats of physical violence, rape and abuse from the upper castes often keep them from performing their duties. Kamla Malaha, a Sarpanch from the village of Itma Teer in Satna district, lodged a complaint against panchayat secretary that he is not performing his duties properly. Retribution was immediate. Secretary immediately catch the CEO and make all the blames on her but she fights for his suspention. Ultimately the matter deal by court and in the mean time the whole works of panchayat suffers.

The tribe woman Sarpanch of in Chakdhai panchayat neighboring Satna district was even fortunate. She is uneducated and first time she hold the power. As usually happened, in starting, her family members run her panchayat by their own rules. A local NGO came into the frame and give her different types of advocacy and training to awake her inner voice. She arises with new vision and now play a role of real leader. “In starting I do not know how to do with the things, but now I am confident to do everything for my panchayat” She said.

A group of “powerful” people In Nangipura village of Madhya pradesh did not allow dalit women members in panchayat gram saba. They oppose and use abuse words against them and after some time they throw stones on them. The affected woman gone to nereast police station but the report was not written. The entire incidence was reported before the CEO and other bureacates but no chargesheet made against the so-called powerful people.

Various sub-committees included in the state legislations for social justice, amenities, production, etc. are not functional in most of the Panchayats. There is no clarity about the role and composition of these committees and no effort has been made to make them operational. There is a noteworthy provision of right to Information clause in the state Panchayat Act. Under this provision, every citizen has the right to see the official government records after paying a nominal sum decided by the state government. However, still most villagers are not familiar with this provision and some times the sarpanchs of the villages not know more about the same.

Many Panchayat institutions demonstrate a sufficient understanding of the constructive role that self-help groups (SHGs) and NGOs play and are able to configure a working relationship with them. With apathetic and corrupt administrations at the state and central levels, the tribal population is heavily dependent on the local nongovernmental organisation network as a representative and protector of their rights. In Satna district for instance, the Gram Sudhar Samati, a NGO serve almost as a parallel support. In many places of the districts the women groups successfully run SHGs. Still there is an urgent need to work out mechanisms/systems that will allow the SHGs and the Panchayats to work in tandem and establish a system of reinforcing each other’s work. Establishing a system, through which the SHGs and the Panchayats interface efficiently, is eminently possible because by nature and mandate both these institutions have the same objective, i.e., of ushering people-centered development and to empower the disempowered.

Lokendra Singh Kot