Abstract

The term ‘decentralisation’ has generally been used to refer to a variety of institutional reforms. It has sometimes been considered as a change in the organisational framework in which political, social and economic decisions are made and implemented. It is also understood as a mechanism to transfer responsibility and authority. In recent years, decentralisation has received singular attention all over the world. It has been considered as one of the most important elements in development strategy. It is a global and regional phenomenon, and most countries have attempted to implement it as a tool for development, as a political philosophy, and as a mechanism for sharing responsibility at different levels.Since 1980s, developing countries have increasingly adopted decentralised form of governance. Decentralisation means the transfer of authority and responsibility from central to intermediate and local governments. Although the democratic decentralisation in terms of Panchayati Raj Institutions (village councils) was a post-Independence phenomenon, there has been a legacy and tradition of village panchayats since time immemorial in India. The 73rd and 74th Amendment Act, 1993 of the Constitution of India has made the Panchayat an institution of self-government. As per the constitution, Panchayats shall prepare plan for economic development and social justice at their level. The District Planning Committee shall integrate the plan so prepared with the plans prepared by the local bodies at district level. The success and failure of the Panchayats would depend on planning and implementation. It also depends on maximum people’s participation at every stage of planning process, from proposal to implementation. People’s participation in local-level development has been exercised through the formulation of the Panchayat-level development plan, project coordination at intermediate and district levels of the Panchayats.The Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in West Bengal are very strong bodies, which function as real institutions of self-governance. In West Bengal, the planning process of grass-root level has some stages from proposal to implementation. After introduction of 3-tier Panchayat system in 1978, the Government of West Bengal brought about need-based reforms in the system from time to time from the very beginning. Encouraged by the State Government’s strong commitment to rural decentralisation, Department for International Development (DFID), Government of UK came forward to support the ongoing rural decentralisation initiatives and upscale the bottom-up planning process. In the present study, an attempt has been made to understand the role of DFID for strengthening decentralisation in rural Bengal.

Highlights

  • Decentralisation means the transfer of authority, legislative, judicial or administrative, from central to intermediate and local governments

  • The British period divided into four timelines, that is, from 1687-1881, local governments were established to share the burden of resources of the central and provincial governments; 1882-1919, local governments were viewed as local self-government; 1920

  • The Project Concept Note approved by the appropriate authorities in the UK and India in 2002 had recommended for a support of ₤150 million; but at the time of appraisal of the Programme Design, Department for International Development (DFID) reduced the size of the grant to ₤130 million over seven years

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Summary

Introduction

Decentralisation means the transfer of authority, legislative, judicial or administrative, from central to intermediate and local governments. Village was the smallest unit and had sufficient powers for local self-governance. According to Article 40 of the Indian Constitution, “the state should take steps to organise Village Panchayats and endow them with such power and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government.”. Article 243G of the Constitution envisaged Panchayats as Institute of Self Governance (ISG), which means they should enjoy functional, financial and administrative autonomy in their working area. As per the Constitution, Panchayats shall prepare plan for economic development and social justice at local level. The State Government created Gram Unnayan Samiti (village development committee) elected by the electors of each Gram Sansad (GS) to enhance people’s participation and to assist Gram Panchayats to plan, implement and monitor activities for economic development and social justice. An attempt has been made to discuss the methodology of decentralised planning

Methodology of Decentralised Planning in West Bengal
Scenario of Decentralised Planning
Intervention of DIFD for Strengthening Decentralization in Rural Bengal
The Changing Scenario
Capacity Building
Development of Infrastructure
Implementation of Various Schemes
Findings
Conclusion
Full Text
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