Article Type: Research Article Article Citation: Sudip Mandal. (2020). GANDHIAN IDEAS OF
GRASSROOT DEVELOPMENT AND INDIAN DEVELOPMENT POLICY IN 21ST CENTURY (SPECIAL
REFERENCE OF PANCHAYAT RAJ INSTITUTIONS). International Journal of Research
-GRANTHAALAYAH, 8(11), 100-105. https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v8.i11.2020.1990 Received Date: 12 October 2020 Accepted Date: 30 November 2020 Keywords: Village Panchayat Democratic Decentralization Panchayat Raj Gram Sabha In the recent times, 'Good Governance' is associated with efficient and effective of administration in a democratic framework and responsiveness of the state and its institutions. The main key elements of 'Good Governance' refer that respect for human rights, equity, rule of law, transparency in public procedure, strong democracy and capacity in public administration. The ideal democracy depends upon the equality of all the purely public opinions. In the same way Gandhian ideas of Panchayat Raj system is a broad concept in independent India and it is a transparency of government in public administration as a part of good governance. It was a concept of diffused grass-roots democracy and process of democratic decentralization. It's a large number of rural people who are directly involved in the field of democratic participation. From ancient times the village has always been regarded as the primary unit in the governance of India. Important govt. policies are implemented through panchayats. The Gram Sabha plays an important role in the whole Panchayat Raj institution in India's democratic system. This is a purely qualitative study. So, Present study is going to focus on the Gandhian point of view Panchayat Raj. This is necessary to development in India 21st century and this conception go ahead powerful in the Nation.
1. INTRODUCTIONPanchayat
Raj was the most valuable component of Mahatma Gandhi's vision of future India
in which economic and political power would be decentralized on the grassroots
level and each village would be self-sufficient and self-reliant economically.
According to him a rural society based on the self-sufficient village
unit would be in a better position to maintain its freedom than an urban society. Every village would be a republic as well as highly decentralized, autonomous and
non-violent character of the village society. His firm conviction was that the
very idyllic nature of the Indian village life. Gandhiji's Village Panchayat
Raj was concernedd with
the creation of a peaceful and
harmonious way of living which would be recovered to the rural life through self-reliance, self-sufficiency, co-operation and peaceful existence among
all sections of village
people. Gandhiji sought to revive the first Panchayati Raj tradition in India. After
independence, the village panchayat was introduced in the Indian constitution
keeping in mind the thoughts of Gandhiji. Constitution makers had set the
national goal of creating a welfare state so that the aspirations of the people
would be increased very quickly and it was not enough to exercise the power of
the central and state governments in order to expand deeply into the grassroot
levels of democracy. The main purpose of decentralization is to engage the
common people in the development process and to bring transparency of
government.
'Good governance' is a
special key part of transparency in public administration. The responsiveness
of the state and its institutions to the needs and aspirations of the people,
and inclusive citizenship are imperative to good governance. Accordingly, for the rural development of the 73rd Constitution
Amendment Act of 1992 gave the Panchayat constitutional status and this law
introduced the three-tire-panchayat system in all India. The Constitution
Amendment Act calls for the formation of a Gram Sabha in each village panchayat
area. This Gram Sabha is an organ of direct democracy. Gram Panchayat can
encourage the rural people to participate in the maximum amount for the various
socio-economic development programs of the village. 2.
OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY
The objectives
of this study are as follows 1) To find out the Gandhian view of Panchayat Raj. 2) To find out the useful development of India in 21st
century, concept is making in the powerful Nation. 3.
METHODOLOGY
The qualitative study has been taken along with descriptive analysis to explore the Gandhian concept
of Grassroots Development and India's Development Policy on the special
reference of Panchayat Raj Institutions. 4.
SIGNIFICANCE OF DEMOCRATIC
DECENTRALIZATION
Gandhiji favored
decentralization of governance rather than establishing central authority for
self-government. He was a high
believer in the concept of democratic decentralization which was introduced
hypothetically for the formulation of Non-violence (This idea was based on the
writing of Leo Tolstoy and the later
Kropotkin.) as well as truth and individual freedom. He
asserted that democratic decentralization should be possible mainly
non-industrial society with the self-sufficient village as the basic unit of
organization. He wanted to establish a system of governance at the village
level. There was no state or government to control the rights of the
individual. He called it village swaraj or panchayat raj. Gandhiji wanted to
see each village a little republic, self-sufficient and rural people would
enjoy maximum independence in decision making in rural socio-economic
development. He also wanted to
distribute political power among the villages in India and he described
the word Swaraj what he called a true democracy. This democracy is built on the
basis of freedom. Individual freedom, in Gandhiji's view, could be maintained
only the political self-government or self-rule of the people and autonomous,
self-sufficient village communities that offer opportunities to the villages
people for full participation in the democratic process. According to Gandhiji decentralization of political power is the
basic requirement for the success of true democracy. 5.
VILLAGE PANCHAYAT
Gandhiji dreamed of extending democracy to the
grassroot levels and this dream can be
realized only through the Gram Panchayat.The village system is
managed by a number of functionaries and it works as an
autonomous socio-political unit. Panchayati Raj institution is an important
tool for establishing democracy at the grassroots level in economic and
political affairs. After traveling across the all over country, Mahatma
Gandhi's conviction was that Indian villages were very
idyllic nature of living and high thinking, so if the villages could be managed by the Gram Panchayat, then India would be benefited. There are every village republics , having full powers which
are
self-reliant and self-sufficient which all that people want. The minimum standard of living can be provided
to all people through the Panchayat
Raj system where a person has the maximum freedom
and the opportunity to develop his personality. So gradually these republics
continue to degenerate the state and the foundation of democracy becomes
stronger. According to Gandhiji without adequate power, the centralized system
could not be perpetuated. Gandhiji's
ideal political system was not a pyramid-shaped federal structure. This ideal
political structure was like a sea wave (Oceanic Circel),
where each wave had its own distinctiveness and was not dependent on others. The Panchayat will decide all matters of the village and the every Panchayat will be formed with five persons, annually elected by the adult villagers, male
and female, possessing minimum prescribed qualifications. They are committed to
the development of the village. Gandhiji's main goal
was to have a person at the center of local
governance. People will take a personal interest and expect a large number of
people to attend a meeting of common interest issues such as village industries,
agricultural production, obligations and planning. The small communities or villages, in which voluntary co-operation, is the condition of dignified and peaceful
existence. 6.
VILLAGE -UNIT OF A
DEVOLUTION SYSTEM
Gandhi made it very clear that
focusing of either economic or political power would violate all the necessary
principles of participatory democracy. He was against the center
being too strong, Panchayat Raj institution can also be considered as the
parallel politics of decentralization and as units of economic autonomy. The
last unit of the decentralization process is the village. In fact
that the formation of village panchayat, Gandhian vision of panchyat
raj system is essential to maintain and shared political power among the people.
They will be able to self- managed and self- regulated their own local
organization. They are participate
to decision-making process and implementation are done by the local people, so
that they will be the authoritative of this institution. It is run through the
collective will of all the individuals. Village is the primary unit of
participatory democracy. The philosophy of political decentralization is a
creation of panchayat raj with parallel politics in which people’s empowerment is
to counter the centralizing and alienating forces of the modem state. According
to Gandhiji, development of Panchayat system would be
possible through proper use of local resources. In the field of local
industries and agriculture, development would come up
through village meetings of Gram sabha and the
panchayats would have to be
organized that way. Gandhiji's dream village is a small republic, self-sufficient,
enjoying maximum freedom and the village panchayat can be the director of rural
society and economy. At the same time, all decisions regarding rural matters
are entitled to be made. Gandhi's undertaking a plan of government under the Gandhian Constitution starting from
the primary unit, the Village Panchayat to the balance of the
All India Panchayat Raj, where power has been entrusted to all levels of government.
Therefore, that every village will not only be self-sustained, it will be
capable of managing its affairs even to the extent of defending itself against
the whole world. 7.
PANCHAYAT RAJ SYSTEM
The Gandhian concept of Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj
system is an important weapon which can become vehicles
for the social and political change by including all the stakeholders in the
process of decision-making and policy formulation. Emphasis is placed on the empowerment
and political awareness of the rural people. Friendship mentality among the all
local people will play a positive role in building brotherhood, people will be
aware of social duty-responsibility and cooperation. It is
clear that Gandhiji's Panchayati Raj system is represent to real democracy. 8.
INDIAN DEVELOPMENT POLICY
REGARDING PANCHAYAT RAJ INSTITUTIONS
Mahatma Gandhij's clear
statement about Panchayat Raj, it is a presenting a picture of highly
decentralized form of village government in which is perfect democracy based
upon individual freedom and law of non-violence, and each village is
responsible for its own affairs, as the foundation of India's political system.
In Gandhiji's view, such word is Gram Swaraj (Village self-government). By the way, after independence the constitution of India comes
into force on 26th january 1950 as well as the Indian
Constitution is being called directive principles of state policy mention
village panchayats as 'units of self-government'(Art. 40). The Government of India appointed Balwant
Rai Mehta Committee in jan,1957 to experiment the programme of the Community Development Programme (1952) and
the National Extension Service (1953) and to suggest measures for their better working. The main
goal of the Community Development Programme (1952) is to achieve the
socio-economic development of the rural population. These recommendations of
the committee were accepted by National Development Council in January 1958. The Committee recommended the organization of
the plan of 'democratic decentralization' which is finally came to known as
Panchayat Raj. Establishment of
a three-tier Panchayati Raj
system---gram panchayat at the
village level. Rajasthan was the first state in all over India to
establish Panchayati Raj. Formally in this project was introduced by the the Prime Minister Jawaharlal
Nehru on Oct 2, in Nagaur district at Rajasthan. Thereafter, several
state governments adopted the Panchayati Raj system during the 1950 to 1960.
Finally decline of first generation Panchayati Raj Institutions. Later on the law was passed through the 73rd Constitution
Amendment in 1992 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao.
Panchayat is described as an 'Institutions of Local Self Government' in
Article 243 of the Indian Constitution. The 73rd Amendment Act 1992 has
provided Constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions and is a step
in the direction of speeding up the process of decentralization and giving
power as well as responsibility and stability to local institutions. For the
preparation of establish economic development and social justice, Local
government independently will create all plans and implement all affairs. Seventy-Third Amendment Act,1992 has added a new Part-IX entitled as ' the
panchayats' and a new Eleventh Schedule (Article 243G) containing 29th
functional items of the panchayats. This subject of 'Local Government' is
mentioned in the State List (66 Subjects) under the Seventh Schedule (Article
246) of the Constitution. 9. GRAM SABHA - SOCIAL AUDIT
In the new system
the Gram Sabha is a very important role play of Panchayati Raj Institution in 21st century. Gram Sabha is a general
assembly of the all villagers. Though, The Ministry of Panchayat Raj has issued specific
guidelines for the formation of effective platform Gram Sabha through in the
planned economic and social development of the villages in a transparent way.
The guidelines are a part of the proceedings to observe the year 2009-10 as
year of Gram Sabha and relate to the social audit for the effective
implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREG)
Act 2005. It also Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Ayojana (PMGSY) is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme and
all the road works will be subjected to Social Audit by way of discussion in
the Gram Sabha. According to the guidelines, the Gram Sabha is a Key to the self-governance and It is through the gram sabha
that the elected representative is made accountable to the electorate. At the
same time, Gram Sabha has to meet periodically with maximum participation of
the people. The poor men, women and marginalized citizens equally participate
in the village meetings on the Gram Sabha and the decision is made on the
basis of local priorities through discussion and debate of proposals based on
local problems. Gram Sabha shall approve of plans, programmes and projects for
social and economic development before they are taken up for implementation by
the Panchayat at the village level and responsible for the identification of
beneficiaries under the property alleviation and other programmes. For that,
active functioning of the Gram Sabha is the primary unit of
participatory democracy with transparency, accountability and
achievement as well as it is the voice of democracy. Only if Gram Sabhas are vigilant and sensitive to their own problems, the Panchayati Raj institutions become successful. So, the Gram
Panchayat must consult with the Gram Sabha to determine the policy at the grass
root level as well as it will also be possible for ordinary poor villagers to
participate in setting the policy of Panchayats. Therefore, the importance of
the Gram Sabha is increasing steadily
such as very recently Ministry of Panchayati Raj have been launched Sankalp se
Siddhi Abhiyan New India Movement
(201722) through
statistics 2,56,590 Gram Sabhas for Sankalp Se Siddhi
Programme, 2,95,41,901 people participated and awarded for the very recently outstanding performance through effective
Gram Sabhas of
Gram Panchayats have been selected with Nanaji
Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar (NDRGGSP).
In the indian Constitution
mentioned here the Article 243G under the Legislature of the state may, by law
endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to
enable them to function as institutions of self-government and including the
Eleven Schedule. Such laws may also endow powers and responsibilities upon
Panchayats for the preparation and implementation of plans for economic
development and social justice including in relation to the 29 matters listed
in the Eleventh Schedule. This lead to the enactment
of Gram Panchayat Acts by various States; these are no more
than half-hearted attempts for the creation of rural local government
institutions. 10. CONCLUSION
The studies of several eminent scholars are working
with Panchayatiraj in different states and the Status
Report of the Ministry of Panchayat Raj (1996) lead us to the inference that
the unfinished work of Gandhian Ideal of Village Swaraj was implemented on 2
October 1959, as recommended by the Balwant Rai Mehta committee. Panchayat Raj
Institution was formed through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992
under the leadership of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao. It came into force
on 24th April,1993. Although in rural areas the system of panchayats is still
controversial due to lack of proper education, because of the narrow-minded
sectoral interests, etc., in almost all states, panchayats have been given
various levels of autonomy. Apparently that the present scenario of the social,
political and economics empowerment to village
development of the Panchayati Raj system in the true sense is successful
in the twenty-first century (In the sense from 1993 to 2020). At the same time, there is no doubt that Gandhiji's
idea of decentralization of self-reliant development is a very
relevant subject today and it is reflected in the various welfare projects of
the states and central government to make in powerful Nation through the gram
panchayats more motivated, self-reliant, strong and to ensure the momentum of
development. For example the central
government has announced an additional allocation of Rs 40,000 crore for the
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREG) Project in the
current financial year. The Rural Development Minister said that Rs 1 lakh 20
thousand crore was allocated in the budget for the
financial year 2020-2021 but it is in excess of that. The adoption of this
policy by the Government of India is certainly part of building a powerful Nation and State. Gandhiji's Hind Swaraj explains the all Indian economic (and political) model. Very recently announcement our Prime Minister Narendra Modis
idea of Atmanirbhar Bharat or self-reliant India is same as Gandhijis behalf of modernisation but no Western
dependence. At the same time he emphasized the
importance of promoting local products. Mainly science and technological
development in the rural sector and socio-economic to democratic empowerment of
the village people. In this way, by boosting the domestic economy, a
self-reliant India and this policy is part of a powerful nation state will be formed. We are very optimistic
but time will tell. Above all,
the villagers need their common interest and continuous support for rural social
and economic development. Therefore, the joint effort of all is needed to
empower the rural people through the Gram Swaraj of Gandhiji's dream and
participatory democracy construct to India's national development. SOURCES OF FUNDINGThis research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. CONFLICT OF INTERESTThe author have declared that no competing interests exist. ACKNOWLEDGMENTNone. REFERENCES
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