Decentralized local development planning and financial resources for Gram Panchayat : a case study in Cuttack Sadar Block, Orissa, India | |
| Author | Pattnaik, Itishree |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.RD-04-02 |
| Subject(s) | Decentralization in government--India--Orissa Rural development--Planning--India--Orissa |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The decentralization of planning process is the only path for a better governance in allover the world. This system is for the people and by the people. Although the decentralization process in India particularly in Orissa has been introduced since four decades, but it has taken a new dimension with many devolutions included by the constitutional amendments, which enabled the political, administrative and financial decentralization to the hands of Panchayatraj. The success of the decentralization depends on the clear cut delivery of political, administrative and financial decentralization to the hands of Rural Local Governance, especially to the lowest tier of Panchayatraj i.e. the Grama Panchayat. Although the Orissa government has implemented the decentralization process through Panchayatraj system, there is a lack of sufficient devolution of financial strength to the hands of Grama Panchayat, which makes the decentralization process a void. The thesis is an exploration of the financial decentralization into the hands of Grama Panchayat, intended to bring forth the small but vital gaps remaining in the system of Panchayatraj, which limits the success of Grama Panchayat. The thesis has tried to reinforce the financial strength of Grama Panchayat system, depending on which the other strengths are revolving. Although there is a good amount of freedom given for local level planning, the application of which depends on financial strength of Grama Panchayat for achievement. The thesis tries to show the weaknesses and deficiencies prevailing in the interior and exterior of Grama Panchayat. Further the thesis also has tried to focus on the peoples' attitude towards Grama Panchayat, because, the decentralization requires a total participation of people in every stage of planning process. Their opinion, views helped to explore the bottlenecks in the decentralization process. The important findings have come up that the Grama Panchayat is weak in context of finance. Although there are many responsibilities given to the hands of the GP but necessary provisions have not yet provided in support of them. The people are very dissatisfied in the nonfunctioning of the gram Panchayat which lowers the faith on GP. Therefore the recommendation are given that the GP should concentrate more on the generation of own fund, as the government fund is very low. The government also should look into the matter and provide facilities for the better functioning of GP and gear the decentralization process. |
| Year | 2004 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Routray, J.K.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Soparth Pongquan ;Zimmerman, Willi ; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of The Netherlands;Asian Institute of Technology |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2004 |