Decentralisation and Local Governance

Decentralisation and Local Governance

1 Concept, Evolution and Significance of Democratic Decentralisation

  1. Concept of Democratic Decentralisation
  2. Evolution of Democratic Decentralisation
  3. Significance of Democratic Decentralisation
  4. Democratic Decentralisation in India

2 Contextual Dimensions of Democratic Decentralisation-1- Political, Constitutional and Administrative

  1. Post Modernist Critique
  2. The Political Environment of Choice
  3. Constitutional Dimension
  4. Administrative Argument
  5. The Decentralisation Debate

3 Contextual Dimensions of Democratic Decentralisation-Ii- Social, Economic and Geographical

  1. Social Dimension of Democratic Decentralisation
  2. Geographical Context of Democratic Decentralisation
  3. Economic Context
  4. Democratic Decentralisation: Means for Good Governance

4 Understanding Decentralisation in Contemporary Settings

  1. Legislative Framework of Decentralisation
  2. Political Decentralisation
  3. Functional Decentralisation
  4. Administrative Decentralisation
  5. Financial Decentralisation

5 Components of Decentralised Development โ€“ I- Empowerment

  1. Empowerment: The Concept
  2. Need for Empowerment
  3. Empowerment: National Attempts
  4. Empowerment: Grassroots Initiatives
  5. Empowerment: Operational Framework
  6. Empowerment: Problems and Constraints
  7. Empowerment: The Road Ahead

6 Components of Decentralised Development โ€“ II- Socioeconomic and Politico-administrative

  1. Socio-Economic Component of Decentralisation
  2. Politico-Administrative Component of Decentralisation
  3. Steps/Measures to Strengthen the Socio-Economic and Politico-Administrative Components

7 Components of Decentralised Development โ€“ III Equal Distribution of Benefits of Development

  1. What do you understand by Development
  2. The Principal of Desert
  3. The Principle of Need
  4. The Principle of Balance
  5. Factors Influencing Peopleโ€™s Preference for Distribution โ€“ In Small Groups
  6. Factors Influencing Peopleโ€™s Preferences for Distribution – Society wide distributions of resources

8 Partnership Among Different Levels of Government โ€“ I- Union and State Governments

  1. Rationale and Limitations
  2. Different Fields of Partnership
  3. Multi-layer decision making
  4. Role of the Government
  5. The Role as โ€˜Enablerโ€™ and the Importance of Governance
  6. Governance Initiatives in Intellectual Property Rights
  7. The Role as a Provider of Infrastructure
  8. The Role as Investor in Social Sectors

9 Partnership Among Different Levels of Government โ€“ II- Local Authorities and Special Purpose Agencies

  1. Partnership among Local Authorities and Special Purpose Agencies in Education Sector
  2. Partnership among Local Authorities and Special Purpose Agencies in Health Sector
  3. Partnership among Local Authorities and Special Purpose Agencies in Telecommunications Sector
  4. Empower Various Agencies
  5. Evaluation of Special Purpose Agencies

10 Partnership Between Local Government and Non-State Agencies/Actors

  1. Need for Partnership
  2. Bhagidari: A Programme of Government-Citizen Partnership
  3. Realising Bhagidari
  4. Critical Success Gaps
  5. Bhagidari: A Model of Good Governance

11 Impact of Decentralised Development

  1. Political Decentralization
  2. Functional Decentralisation
  3. Financial Decentralisation
  4. Administrative Decentralisation
  5. Suggestions for Strengthening Decentralised Development

12 Evolution of Local Governance (Before 73rd & 74th) Amendment

  1. Historical Overview
  2. Post-independence Developments
  3. Committees in Chronological Order of Appearance
  4. Weakness of the New Panchayati Raj System
  5. Evolution of Urban Local Government in India
  6. Issues in Urban Governance

13 Features Of 73rd and 74th constitutional Amendment

  1. Features of 73rd Constitutional Amendment
  2. Features of 74th Constitutional Amendment
  3. Decentralised Planning in Context of 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Act
  4. Initiatives after Economic Reforms
  5. Functioning of PRIs in Various States after 73rd Amendment
  6. Functioning of Local Governance after 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment

14 Organisational Structure of Rural Local Bodies

  1. Historical Background
  2. Democratic Decentralisation – Panchayati Raj
  3. Structure of Panchayati Raj System
  4. 73rd Amendment Act and Powers and Functions
  5. Administrative Framework
  6. Devolution of Powers and Functions โ€“ Actual Position

15 Organisational Structure of Urban Local Bodies

  1. Historical Evolution of Urban Local Government
  2. Organizational Structure
  3. The Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992
  4. Municipal Finance in the Wake of the 74th Amendment

16 Intra-Local Government Relationship-I– Rural

  1. Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat
  2. Connectivity through Membership
  3. Intra-tier Distribution of Powers and Functions
  4. Intra-tier Responsibilities: The Eleventh Schedule
  5. Intra-tier Implementation Hurdles

17 Intra-Local Government Relationship- II- Urban

  1. Sub-Units of Urban Local Government
  2. Trend towards Consolidation
  3. Polycentricity
  4. Lessons for India
  5. Requirements in Work Distribution Intra-tier

18 Development Planning- Nature and Scope

  1. Rationale of Development Planning
  2. Multi-Level Planning
  3. Context of Development Planning
  4. Requirements in Developing Planning

19 Micro Level Plans- Formulation and Implementation

  1. Macro Level Planning: Limitations
  2. Issues in Micro Level Planning
  3. Constraints in Micro Level Planning
  4. Micro Level Planning in the Five-Year Plans
  5. Tenth Plan Priorities

20 Structural Reforms- Resources, Finances, Powers and Functions

  1. Structure of Local Bodies
  2. Powers and Functions of Local Bodies
  3. Infrastructure for Planning
  4. Modalities for People’s Participation
  5. Resources of Local Bodies
  6. Agenda for the Future