Evaluation of Panchayati Raj Institutions in India as a 3rd Tier of Governance

Abstract

This research paper evaluates the performance of Panchayati raj Institutions (PRIs) on 5 parameters: Democratic decentralization, grassroots democracy, Public participation in governance, upliftment of women, social upliftment of SC/ST/OBC. India had experience of local government in ancient and medieval times. In colonial era and post independent times, India adopted various forms of local governments. Through 73^rd constitution amendment in 1992, India adopted a uniform PRI. In 2022, PRIs completed 30 years of their existence which shows mixed results. Though we created structures but from functional aspect they have number of lacunas such as devolution depending on state government, fund crunch, incompetent functionary, schemes like MPLAD, parallel bodies, bureaucratic control. PRIs have potential to transform democratic structure of India by facilitating democratic participation, empowerment of women and backward classes, decentralized planning and implementation, providing public services like clean water, sanitation, health care, primary education. There are problems with PRIs like corruption, limited capacity to deliver public services, dominance of elites, patriarchal mindset. Solution lies in showing trust in those institution, empowering them with revenue collecting facilities, training and skilling of elected representatives, accepting recommendations of state finance commission, conducting regular elections.