Rural Development by Panchayat in Undivided Midnapore District, West Bengal

Abstract

The unique experiment of democratic decentralization through the working of Panchayati Raj Institutions in West Bengal has already brought about an unmistakable transformation of the rural society and contributed to the awakening of consciousness among the less privileged sections regarding their ability and capacity to rebuild their future and to bring the fruits of development within the easy reach of one and all. This intimate involvement of the people in the entire process of rural development and the spontaneous growth of genuine rural leadership in the villages and blocks were the main features of the Panchayati Raj system in this state. Yet this great experiment is not free from some problems which have arisen in the day to day or long-term working of Panchayat bodies. These have to be identified and appreciated without in any manner, casting any reflection upon either the Panchayat system or functionaries in the field whether official Panchayat public relations, upon which depends largely the effective and efficient working of the system. N other words, the dysfunctions of the Panchayat institutions should be properly identified in order to check the entropic tendency of the system. Let us now see the types of dysfunctions of this grass-root experiment. The transfer of power and decision-making authority to elected representatives in the field of rural development has understandably disturbed the earlier ‘balance’ between official and non-officials. A process of trial and error, a process of adjustment has, however, already started and there is an increasing appreciation of the viewpoints that power has necessarily to be with the people and their elected leaders and the bureaucracy must consciously and wholeheartedly provide the needful support and assistance in the decision racking process and also in the process of implementation of programmes decided upon.